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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

ChapIEZi Copyright No. 

shei£...:::f;±i^Cw. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 







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THE CHASE OF AN HEIRESS 



THE 


Chase of an Heiress 


BY 


CHRISTIAN^REID 

Author of “The Man of the Family,” “ The Lady of Las Cruces,”' 
“ The Picture of Las Cruces ” “ Valeria Aylmer,” etc. 







G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 
NEW YORK & LONDON 
Zbc IRuickecbocJ^er press 
1898 
L, 



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1 UfZ4 

Copyright, 1896 

By J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

Copyright, 1898 
(For Revised Edition) 

By G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 


Sno COPY, 
1B9©. 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 

Ube Iknicberboclter f>res6, ‘Kew ISorlt 

Vo V'T 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. — An Isle of Paradise . . . i 

II. — On the Hill of the Palace . i6 

III. — The Story of the Quest . . 30 

IV. — A Cathedral Drama ... 49 

V. — “ The Boats have Left ” . .66 

VI. — Friends in Council ... 78 

VII. — Light on the Drama ... 94 

VIII. — At the Tower of Columbus . 112 

IX. — The Chase Begins . . . .13^ 

X. — The Heiress has Flown . .149 

XL — The Chase Continues . . .169 

XII. — At the Foot of the Cordillera . 187 

XIII. — A Jest that Wounds . . .201 

XIV. — Across the Widow’s Pass . .212 

XV.— On the Shores of Samana . . 227 

XVI.— The End of theXhase . 247 


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THE 

CHASE OF AN HEIRESS 

CHAPTER I 

AN ISLE OF PARADISE 

M orning in the tropics. To those who 
have witnessed this daily miracle of 
nature, no other words can equal these to 
bring before the mind a vision of radiant fresh- 
ness and splendour, of everything most en- 
trancing on sea and land, of skies of ineffable 
azure, pf a wide glory of brilliant sunshine, of 
glittering waves bathing the base of heights 
crowned with feathery palms, and of distant 
dream-like mountains wreathed in mists of 
fairy softness and beauty. This is morning 
among those ‘‘ summer isles of Eden " which 


2 


The Chase of an Heiress 


we call the West Indies; and pre-eminently so 
in that pearl of them all, the most beautiful 
and the most unfortunate, which Columbus 
named Hispaflola — newer, younger, fairer 
Spain. 

It was on such a morning that the Clyde 
steamer, which makes the circuit of the island 
before reaching its most famous eastward port, 
entered the broad mouth of the Ozama River 
and steamed up to the ancient city of Santo 
Domingo. There is not in the New World a 
more striking picture than the approach by sea 
to this historic spot. The first object which 
the incoming traveller sees is the great tower 
or castle known as the Homenaje — the oldest in 
all America, and one of the finest specimens 
extant of the architecture of its time — which 
occupies a commanding position at the mouth 
of the river, crowning a high cliff of coralline 
rock, wave-worn and cavernous. Sweeping 
away from this fortress, to enclose the once 
famous and important city, are walls mediaeval 
and massive as itself, their battlemented length 
broken here and there by sentry-boxes and 
fortalezasy from which the soldiers of Spain 


An Isle of Paradise 


3 


looked forth over sea and land in centuries 
gone by. And then, as the ship moves steadily 
onward, up the broad shining current, the en- 
tire city of Santo Domingo comes into view, 
covering the heights within these walls with its 
great old Spanish buildings and immense 
masses of ruins, interspersed with modern 
houses of wood painted in gaudy tints of 
green, blue, yellow, and red, which, contrast- 
ing with the grey massiveness of ancient 
churches, and with plumy clusters of palms 
waving everywhere, produce an effect pictur- 
esque and tropical beyond description. 

But, as the ship draws into her wharf, an 
object immediately in the foreground of the 
picture dominates all others, at once by its 
magnitude and by its associations. This is the 
ruined palace of Diego Columbus, a grand pile 
of grey stone, now roofless and falling to de- 
cay, but attesting even in its ruin the magnifi- 
cence which once aroused the jealousy of the 
King of Spain. Standing on a high hill just 
within the walls, it overlooks both city and 
harbour, and must have been an imposing ob- 
ject indeed when the great World-Discoverer’s 


4 The Chase of an Heiress 


ambitious son held splendid state within, and 
even much later, before ruthless decay and 
barbarous spoliation had reduced it to its pres- 
ent condition. The encompassing wall is only 
breast-high on the height, but drops down, 
sheer and perfect as when its mighty stones 
were laid, at least fifty feet to the level space 
of land below between the base of the hill and 
the river, where it is pierced a little farther 
along by a gateway, through which all the 
traffic of the city still flows, as in the days 
when the Viceroy of the Indies went in and 
out with glittering train of steel-clad followers. 

Leaning upon the top of this wall in various 
attitudes of indolence on the morning in ques- 
tion were several figures, occupied in watching 
the approach of the ship as she drew in to the 
shore. Three or four negro women with 
sleeves rolled high on their glistening arms, as 
if they had just turned from unseen wash-tubs, 
several men who smoked as they lazily reclined 
upon their elbows, and some children in scanty 
raiment, made up the fringe of vari-coloured 
humanity which lounged in front of the once 
stately palace that stood in yawning ruin be- 


An Isle of Paradise 


5 


hind them — an epitome of the past and present 
of Santo Domingo. Apart from these groups, 
yet also looking over the wall down at the in- 
coming ship, were two figures so strikingly 
different as to arrest attention at once, — a tall, 
slender man, dressed in light clothes and wear- 
ing one of the sun-helmets which are such 
familiar objects on Englishmen and tourists all 
over the tropics, and a lady of whom little 
could be seen except that she wore a sailor-hat 
and shielded herself from the ardent rays of 
the sun with a large parasol. 

“ Those must be Mr. and Miss Chesney up 
yonder,” said a voice, speaking unexpectedly 
very near a man who was watching these 
various sights with somewhat languid interest 
from the deck of the ship. ” I ’d know his 
helmet and her parasol anywhere. Yes,” — 
after a pause of apparently prolonged inspec- 
tion, — ” there 's no doubt about them. Here 's 
for a signal.” 

He waved his handkerchief, and the next 
moment the salutation received a response. 
The helmet was lifted and slightly flourished 
in return. 


6 


The Chase of an Heiress 


“ That *s Mr. Chesney/’ the speaker went 
on, keeping up a flutter of white cambric. 
“No mistaking him, or her either. She 
does n’t condescend to take any notice. 
That ’s just like her — she ’s pretty, but dis- 
dainful as the devil! ’’ 

At this the listener turned around very 
deliberately and looked at the speaker. 

He found him to be, as he imagined, a man 
whom he had observed during the few days he 
had been on the ship as a very self-asserting, 
self-important person, toward whom he had 
conceived one of those dormant dislikes which 
only require opportunity to become active. 
They had not exchanged a word, but this 
feeling of latent dislike had been mutual. 
“ An underbred cad! ’’ one had thought con- 
temptuously of the other, as he listened to his 
voice in loud boastfulness at the table and on 
deck. “ An arrogant puppy — confound his 
superciliousness! ’’ the other had remarked to 
himself as he passed the long figure stretched 
out in a steamer-chair, reading and smoking, 
and betraying only by a glance of his eyes the 
superciliousness of which he was accused. 


An Isle of Paradise 


7 


There could be no doubt, however, that 
there was in those eyes at the present moment 
something besides superciliousness — a light, in 
fact, of angry astonishment and indignation. 
The speaker met them full with a gaze of 
insolent indifference, while he went on 
talking to his companion, a commercial trav- 
eller: 

Know them ? Oh, very well. We came 
out together from New York on the last 
steamer. I stopped at Puerto Plata, and they 
came on here. Old gentleman has a fad for 
antiquities, and wanted to see the oldest city 
in America.” 

” If by antiquities you mean ruins, there 's 
a large assortment here to amuse him,” re- 
marked the commercial traveller, gazing at 
some of them as he spoke. ” That yonder is 
the house of Columbus. What Columbus ? 
Oh, the Columbus, I suppose — did n't know 
there was any other — but you can't prove it by 
me. Your friends must have taken lodgings 
up there with the niggers and the donkeys, to 
be on hand so early in the morning.” 

” Came to meet the steamer, no doubt,” said 


8 The Chase of an Heiress 


the other, complacently. “ I mentioned when 
we parted that I would probably be on the 
next ship. If they don’t come down, I must 
go and speak to them.” 

” Well, I ’d like to see myself climbing that 
hill to speak to anybody before I had break- 
fast,” said the commercial gentleman, with 
energy. “You must be in love with the lady, 
however disdainful she may be.” 

“ We saw a great deal of each other coming 
out,” was the reply, in that tone of fatuous 
conceit so common with a certain class of men 
whenever a woman is concerned. “ And it 
would n’t be civil to pass without speaking. 
No woman likes that sort of thing.” 

At this point the listener walked away. If 
he had remained a moment longer he felt that 
he might possibly push the speaker head- 
foremost over the vessel’s side, which was a 
method of expressing disgust more forcible 
than desirable. In spite of himself, however, 
his very air in moving away expressed this dis- 
gust, and the other man looked after him with 
anything save a friendly glance. 

“ Now what the devil has he to do with it ? ” 


An Isle of Paradise 


9 


he remarked, irrelevantly, as it appeared to his 
companion. 

“ What has who to do with it ? ” the latter 
inquired. 

“ Why, that fellow Leslie — is n’t that his 
name ? Did you see the look he gave me a 
moment ago ? What are the Chesneys to him, 
that he should resent my talking about them ? ” 
Oh — Leslie!” The commercial traveller 
glanced after the figure moving away, and 
shrugged his shoulders. ” Perhaps he has 
come out here after them. Nobody knows 
what his business is. Perhaps” — with a 
laugh — ‘ ‘ they have come down to meet him. ’ ’ 

This suggestion was evidently not agreeable 
to the travelling companion of the Chesneys. 
” Nonsense! ” he said, hastily. ” That can’t 
be. It ’s not likely they know him at all. I 
heard them say they did n’t know anybody on 
the island. And he comes from Monte-Cristi, 
you know.” 

“You come from Puerto Plata, too, but you 
don’t belong there any more than he belongs 
to Monte-Cristi. You ’ve only to look at him 
to see that.” 


lo The Chase of an Heiress 


“ I don’t care to look at him,” said the 
other, emphatically. ” Wherever he comes 
from, he is made up of equal parts of arrogance 
and impudence. I ’d like a good opportunity 
to punch his head. His very manner as he 
walks past one is offensive.” 

” He is stand-offish,” the commercial travel- 
ler admitted; “ but when I meet men like that 
— and naturally I meet all sorts, travelling as 
much as I do — why, I just leave them alone. 
They don’t offend me a particle by their un- 
sociableness. I don’t want to associate with 
any man who does n’t care to associate with 
me.” 

” D n association ! ” rejoined his incensed 

companion. ” I would n’t associate with him 
if there was nobody else on board. But what 
right has he to resent my talking about the 
Chesneys ? ” 

Leslie, meanwhile, walking away, said to 
himself that, since he could not knock the fel- 
low down, he would not remain in his neigh- 
bourhood to be irritated by his taking upon his 
lips a name which he should not have been 
allowed to mention, which only some chance 


An Isle of Paradise 


1 1 

association of travel could ever have made it 
possible for him to mention, as an acquaintance. 
The words he had been forced to hear still 
rang in his ears, stirring impotent wrath : 
“ Pretty, but disdainful as the devil " — “ We 
saw a great deal of each other coming out — 
“ No woman likes that sort of thing.” And it 
was Katherine Chesney, proud, fastidious, and 
disdainful indeed toward presumption and vul- 
garity, of whom this presumptuous, vulgar cad 
ventured to speak in such terms! His anger 
took the form of irritation even against her. 
How was it possible she had suffered the fellow 
to know her ? he asked, forgetting how diffi- 
cult it is to avoid such acquaintance on board 
ship, when the number of passengers is small 
and association almost compulsory, without 
downright rudeness. 

But, as he walked to the other end of the 
deck and again looked up at the hill on which 
stood the old palace, as he saw the figure lean- 
ing in the angle of the wall and fancied that 
even at this distance he could detect the grace 
and distinction which pervaded it, and which 
no other woman in the world, at least to his 


12 The Chase of an Heiress 

eyes, possessed in such degree, a thrill passed 
over him. It was Katherine Chesney herself 
— and so near! What wonderful, unexpected 
gift of fortune was this! He had, indeed, 
sufficient knowledge of the movements of her- 
self and her father to have been aware that 
they had gone to the West Indies for the 
winter, but no faintest hope of encountering 
them in this remote spot had been in his mind 
as he came upon his own voyage. He would 
have fancied them perhaps in Cuba, Jamaica, 
Martinique, but never in beautiful, historic, 
world-forgotten Santo Domingo. And yet a 
little reflection told him that it was just because 
it was beautiful, historic, and world-forgotten 
that they were likely to care more for it than 
for any of the more ordinary haunts of tourists. 
The father a lover of antiquities, the daughter 
of all things unusual, picturesque, and poet- 
ical, it was certain that no spot in the New 
World would be so attractive, so interesting to 
them as this, the fair but desolate cradle of its 
greatness. 

And since they were here, since it was cer- 
tain that they were yonder in his sight, was 


An Isle of Paradise 


13 


he, an old friend of years, to be deterred from 
going at once to greet them because an inso- 
lent stranger had spoken of them with pre- 
sumptuous familiarity ? Such, indeed, had 
been his first impulse, but he speedily recog- 
nised its folly. No sooner, therefore, was the 
ship made fast and the ladder let down her 
side, than, without a thought of breakfast, 
baggage, or custom-house, he hastened ashore 
and made his way past the modern iron ware- 
houses erected along the wharf, through insist- 
ent coachmen and over a dusty road, to the 
ancient gate with its ponderous arch. Passing 
under this, he paused and looked around for 
some avenue by which he could reach the 
summit of the hill, that now lay immediately 
on his right. But the approach seemed com- 
pletely closed by a row of houses, hardly more 
than huts, which were huddled closely along 
the side of the street directly within the gate. 
They were chiefly drinking-shops of the lowest 
order, for the accommodation (and temptation) 
of sailors, and over their roofs could be seen 
the height crowned by its great sombre mass 
of ruins. But there seemed no passage through 


14 The Chase of an Heiress 


them, and while Leslie hesitated, wondering if 
he had Spanish enough to make himself under- 
stood in asking direction, a door in a crazy 
wooden erection joining the great city wall 
swung open, and a boy came leaping out. 
There was an instant’s glimpse of a path within 
leading upward, which made Leslie eagerly 
advance. 

Puedo entrar ? he asked, in his imperfect 
Spanish. “ Quiero — what the deuce is ‘ go 
up,’ I wonder ! — quiero ver la casa grande P 

La casa de Colon ? — si, senor, ’ ’ the boy an- 
swered, pushing open the door again and 
motioning him to enter. 

He passed through, and found himself climb- 
ing the hill by a flight of ancient, broken steps 
leading upward along the side of the wall. Im- 
possible not to think how many feet of men in 
armour had clanked up and down this ascent 
from the water-gate — soldiers and sailors, 
companions and followers of the great leaders 
who had made the world ring with their mailed 
tread; nay, the very leaders themselves had 
all, no doubt, mounted and descended along 
this way. 


An Isle of Paradise 


15 


Gaining at length the summit on which the 
palace stands, he paused an instant. Nothing 
could be more melancholy than the picture of 
ruin and desolation before him; but at the 
moment the shades of great men and the 
memory of great deeds faded, as he saw, still 
leaning on the wall, and now alone, a figure 
he knew well, and turning toward him a face 
he would have- climbed a far steeper path to 
behold. 




CHAPTER II 

ON THE HILL OF THE PALACE 

O F Miss Chesney’s amazement, when she 
recognised the man who advanced to- 
wards her, there was no room to doubt. 

“Mr. Leslie! “ she exclaimed, as if she 
could hardly believe the evidence of her eyes. 
“ Is it possible this is you ? “ 

“ As possible as that this is you,” he replied, 
laughing a little as they shook hands. “ I was 
never more surprised than to recognise you up 
here. I have just come in on the ship below 
there.” 

“ And you recognised me at that distance ? 
What wonderful sight you must have! ” 

“ Well — ah — I heard a passenger mention 
your name. But I am sure I should have 
recognised you if it had not been mentioned. 

i6 


On the Hill of the Palace 17 


And yet there is no one I could have less ex- 
pected to meet." 

I can echo the remark. There is certainly 
no one I could less have expected to meet 
than yourself. Santo Domingo seems very 
far removed from your orbit." 

" Why farther than from your own ? " 

Oh, because papa and I, being inveterate 
globe-trotters, and having visited every place 
of known interest in the world, are now de- 
voting our attention to seeking out those 
which are unknown. Hence you find us 
here." 

"You are to be congratulated on having dis- 
covered what you are in search of. Santo 
Domingo is so far forgotten as a place of in- 
terest that I don’t suppose it has a visit from a 
tourist pure and simple once in ten years." 

" Are not you a tourist pure and simple ? " 
" By no means. I will not be rude enough 
to say, pas si bete, I am here on business." 

" Business! " in a tone which seemed to in- 
dicate both surprise and incredulity. " What 
is it ? — sugar, or logwood ? " 

" Neither. My business is — well, we will 


1 8 The Chase of an Heiress 


call it legal. Perhaps you are not aware that 
I have an uncle who is a lawyer." 

" I was not aware of it, and I fail to see the 
connection. I have an uncle who is a bishop, 
but it does not follow that I am here on ec- 
clesiastical affairs." 

" There is the difference that your uncle has 
probably nothing to do with your coming here, 
while my uncle had everything to do with my 
coming. I am looking for a lost heir." 

" A lost what f " 

" Heir — person who has inherited, or is des- 
tined to inherit, property, you know." 

" Thanks, yes. I understand the meaning 
of the word. But what has this heir inherited, 
and why is he lost ? " 

" It ’s rather a long story " 

" So much the better. To meet an acquaint- 
ance and find him provided with a long story 
is wonderful luck — in Santo Domingo. Having 
been here ten days, I can assure you of that. 
But we must defer the story for the present, 
since here comes papa, who started to go down 
to the ship just before you came up. Whom 
has he with him ? It can’t be possible that we 


On the Hill of the Palace 19 


are going to meet two acquaintances in one 
morning ? ” 

Whom had he with him ? Leslie knew even 
before he turned. Yes, there was his obnox- 
ious fellow-passenger coming around the ruin 
with Mr. Chesney, — for it seemed there was a 
different mode of approach from that by which 
he had ascended, — talking with great anima- 
tion, and taking off his hat, the moment he 
caught sight of Miss Chesney, with an air of 
offensive delight. 

“ That 's a man who, like myself, has just 
come in on the steamer,” Leslie replied. 
“ He ’s the person I heard mention your name. 
We picked him up at Puerto Plata.” 

P'rom the tone of this last statement, it might 
have been supposed that the person in question 
was some kind of an undesirable derelict. 

” Puerto Plata ? Oh, I remember him 
now,” said Miss Chesney, as her father ap- 
proached. 

” My dear,” he said, “ you have not forgot- 
ten our fellow-traveller on the voyage out, 
whom we left at Puerto Plata — Mr. Stanford? ” 

” Not at all,” replied Miss Chesney, as she 


20 The Chase of an Heiress 


held out a slender, gloved hand. “ I remem- 
ber him very well. You stopped at Puerto 
Plata on business, and thought you might have 
to go into the interior,” she went on, address- 
ing that gentleman, and adding these details 
as if to refresh her own recollection. “You 
disliked the prospect of the journey, I remem- 
ber. Did you, after all, have to go to — what 
was the name of the place ? ” 

“ Santiago,” replied Mr. Stanford. “ Yes, 
I went, but was fortunately able to return to 
Puerto Plata in time to catch the next steamer, 
by which I arrived here this morning. I had, 
of course, in view the pleasure of our meeting 
again, ’ ' he went on, ‘ ‘ but it was an unexpected 
gratification that my first view of Santo Do- 
mingo included a sight of you — and of Mr. 
Chesney,” he added, a little lamely. 

“We had not much idea of gratifying any- 
one’s sight but our own, when we decided to 
walk here this morning to see the ship come 
in,” observed Miss Chesney, with a smiling 
glance at her father, who had meanwhile been 
shaking hands very cordially with Leslie, and 
expressing his surprise at seeing him. 


On the Hill of the Palace 21 


I was just on my way to the ship to see if 
I could n't get some late newspapers from the 
officers, when I met Mr. Stanford,” he said, 
” and by his request turned back with him. 
How on earth did you get here ? ” 

” On the island, or on the hill ? ” asked 
Leslie. 

” Well, both. You are the last man I 
should have expected to see on the island, and 
you must have scaled the wall to reach the hill 
so soon from the deck of the ship.” 

” I came up by an ancient, broken stair, 
straight from the gate,” Leslie explained. 
” So much for the hill. As for the island, 
why may not I be supposed to possess an in- 
terest in historical antiquities, as well as any 
other man ? ” 

“Asa matter of fact, very few men do pos- 
sess such an interest,” replied Mr. Chesney, 
“ and from my knowledge of you I — ah — 
should not have imagined ” 

“ That I had antiquarian tastes ? lam sorry 
to acknowledge that you are quite right. But 
I intend to cultivate them ; and this seems a 
very good place to begin.” 


22 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ On the contrary, a very bad place,” said 
Mr. Chesney, severely. ” There is no intelli- 
gent interest whatever displayed in the ex- 
tremely valuable antiquities which exist here, 
nor even a decent care in preserving them. 
Look, now, at this ruin What are you say- 

ing, Katherine ? ” 

” I was remarking, papa, that perhaps these 
gentlemen, since they have been travelling 
companions only for a short time, may not 
know each other: Mr. Leslie, Mr. Stanford.” 

Both lifted their hats — but did not shake 
hands — with the air of men forced into reluct- 
ant civility. Had they been dogs they would, 
instead, have stiffened their tails and growled 
in their throats. But dogs have some advan- 
tages over men in the matter of the frank 
expression of their feelings. 

I suppose you are both going up into the 
city to look for quarters,” said Mr. Chesney, 
in which case you must not allow us to de- 
tain you, or all the best rooms — if there are 
any best — at Felipe’s will have been taken by 
the passengers whom the steamer has landed.” 
” The friend with whom I parted when I 


On the Hill of the Palace 23 


met you has promised to engage a room for 
me, so I am quite at ease on the subject,’' re- 
plied Mr. Stanford, with an air of superiority. 
“ Accommodation here, I am told, is very 
poor, but it does not matter much to me, for 
I may go into the country almost immedi- 
ately." 

"How adventurous you are!" said Miss 
Chesney. " We should like of all things to go 
into the country, but we are informed that it 
is practically impossible, that travel in the in- 
terior of the island is out of the question, owing 
to the fact that there are no roads. A French 
gentleman, who had just made a journey across 
the country on horseback, said to me the other 
day, ‘ I assure you, mademoiselle, there were 
times when I positively wept from the hard- 
ships I had to endure.’ One must confess that 
was not very encouraging. 

" It is a great disappointment to me," ob- 
served Mr. Chesney, "for I had certainly 
expected, in coming here, to see something 
besides the coast of the island ; but everybody 
says the same thing. ‘ Impossible to go into 
the interior — impossible to take a lady on such 


24 The Chase of an Heiress 


a trip — no roads, no places of accommodation, ' 
• — absolute barbarism, in fact." 

" Listen to papa talking about * impossible 
to take a lady,' — that 's me, you know," said 
Miss Chesney aside to Leslie, — " when he 
knows that I never mind roughing, that I am 
dying to go, and that it is really he who will 
not face the discomforts involved in such a trip. ” 

" With my recent journey to Santiago 
strongly in my memory," Stanford remarked, 
" I cannot but advise you not to think of mak- 
ing such an attempt. The roads — well, it 's 
impossible to speak adequately of the roads, or 
rather the trails that do duty for roads. I ’ve 
no doubt there were better in the days of 
Columbus. And to hear the reasons the 
people give for this condition. ‘ Can’t keep 
up roads here ; the torrents of the rainy season 
wash them away. ’ As if there were not rainy 
seasons in Jamaica, and Porto Rico, and many 
other islands where there are magnificent roads, 
not to speak of the other end of this island, 
where the French made such fine highways 
that they have survived the total neglect and 
rainy seasons of a century." 


On the Hill of the Palace 25 


“ Very absurd indeed,” said Mr. Chesney; 
“ but any excuse is better than none, you 
know, any excuse is better than admitting 
frankly that the island has reverted to a state 
of practical barbarism. Not strange, of course, 
when one considers its history; but very sad 
in view of its great natural resources, its won- 
derful beauty and delightful climate.” 

I don’t know when I have seen a place 
which charmed me so much,” said Miss Ches- 
ney, looking with an appreciative glance at the 
scene which lay around them and taking it in, 
as it were, in its entirety, from the palm-groves 
on the opposite side of the river to the fortress 
at its mouth, and the city lying within the 
ancient walls by which they stood. ” Every- 
thing most interesting, everything most roman- 
tic in the wonderful romance of the finding of 
the New World seems to centre here. It is 
the only place in America where historical as- 
sociations overpower one. Do you know 
[addressing Leslie] that the figure of every 
one of the great Spanish ‘ world-openers,’ as 
someone finely calls them, meets one here ? 
From Columbus himself, there is not one miss- 


26 The Chase of an Heiress 


ing — Cortes, Pizarro, Nufiez de Balboa, De 
Soto, Ponce de Leon, all have stood where we 
are standing now, all have sailed out of this 
harbour below us to discover Mexico, Peru, 
the Pacific, the Mississippi/’ 

‘‘ I did not know it,” replied Leslie, frankly. 
” The fact is, I know very little about Santo 
Domingo, except that Columbus discovered it, 
and founded the first settlement in the New 
World here. As for the other picturesque 
gentlemen of whom you speak, I certainly 
was not aware of their connection with the 
place.” 

“You are not much more ignorant than 
numbers of other people,” said Miss Chesney, 
indulgently. “It is astonishing how little 
even fairly educated people know of such 
things. And yet what can be better worth 
knowing of any place than the historical asso- 
ciations which link it with the past ? ” 

“ It strikes me,” said Mr. Stanford, with 
the air of one who intends to be humourous, 
“ that its present capabilities of affording com- 
fort are much better worth knowing. These 
historical associations are very romantic, but 


On the Hill of the Palace 27 


they don't make up for lack of the necessities 
of civilisation.” 

“ I dare say not,” said Miss Chesney, regard- 
ing him calmly. ” There are people to whom 
the Acropolis would be only a hill of ruins. — 
Don't you think, by the bye, papa, that we 
have been long enough on the present hill 
of ruins ? We are certainly detaining these 
gentlemen from looking after such possibili- 
ties of bodily comfort as Santo Domingo 
affords.” 

Not at all, I assure you,” said Stanford, 
while Leslie remained speechless with indigna- 
tion at being thus bracketed. ” Bodily com- 
forts are quite secondary in importance to the 
pleasure of meeting you. But perhaps it may 
be better to go down before all the carriages 
leave the wharf : so I will bid you good-morn- 
ing. Hope to see you very soon again.” 

” That,” said Miss Chesney, as she watched 
the dapper figure hastening away, ” is a hope 
which I cannot reciprocate^ I find Mr. Stan- 
ford inclined to presume very much on slight 
acquaintance.” 

“ I have been wondering,” Leslie could not 


28 The Chase of an Heiress 


refrain from saying, “ how you ever chanced 
to allow him even the slight acquaintance.” 

” I really forget how it came about,” she 
said, indifferently. ” On the outward voyage 
one was on speaking terms, so to say, with all 
the passengers. I do not remember much 
about this man ; and he certainly presumes in 
taking the tone of an old friend.” 

” He means no harm,” said Mr. Chesney, 
tolerantly. ” Men of his stamp know no 
better. He probably thinks that we are old 
friends.” 

And you classed me with him in your 
speech of a moment ago!” said Leslie, ad- 
dressing Miss Chesney in a tone of injury. 
” What had I done to deserve that ? Have 
I, too, presumed in taking the tone of an old 
friend ? ” 

” Nonsense!” she replied, laughing. ” I 
could not suggest that he should go — and that 
was what I meant — without apparently includ- 
ing you. Besides, it was true. You have 
your bodily comforts to look after also. Is 
any friend bespeaking a room for you at 
Felipe’s ? ” 


On the Hill of the Palace 29 


“ Assuredly not. I have no friend, and 
never heard of Felipe’s.” 

In that case I am afraid your prospects of 
a lodging are very poor indeed. Papa, what 
do you say ? Had we not better take this 
friendless wanderer to breakfast with us ? — and 
then you can assist him afterwards in finding a 
room.” 

” Of course,” said Mr. Chesney. ” I was 
about to propose that. Come along, Leslie. 
We ’ll take no denial.” 




CHAPTER III 

THE STORY OF THE QUEST 

T here was not the faintest danger of a 
denial. Leslie was abjectly glad of the 
invitation to accompany these friends whom 
he had so unexpectedly — he still thought so 
wonderfully — encountered. Mr. Chesney was, 
indeed, about to temper his sense of his ex- 
ceeding good fortune by detaining him long 
enough to reconstruct for his benefit the Casa 
de Colon, had not Miss Chesney interfered. 

“ No, no, papa,” she said. “You can give 
him those details another time. I am sure he 
must be more interested just now in breakfast 
than in the palace of Diego Columbus. I con- 
fess that I am, for an orange and a cup of coffee 
have not very great sustaining power.” 

“ I am afraid you have no genuine antiqua- 
rian enthusiasm, Katherine,” said her father. 


30 


The Story of the Quest 31 

shaking his head. “ All you consider is the 
mere poetical association of things ” 

“ There is nothing very poetical, but rather 
extremely practical, about breakfast, papa.” 

” I was not alluding to breakfast,” said Mr. 
Chesney, a little offended. 

He walked on as he spoke, holding his tall, 
slender figure very erect. He had been in his 
youth a handsome man, and was still fine- 
looking and what is termed ” aristocratic ” in 
appearance, with his clear-cut features and 
well-preserved, well-groomed air. He had 
transmitted his clear-cut features and well-set- 
up figure to his daughter, who in process of 
inheriting these physical traits had seemed to 
improve and add even more distinction to 
them. At least it would be difficult to find a 
more distinguished-looking girl than Katherine 
Chesney, although many more regularly beauti- 
ful might readily be found, while, apart from 
her striking face or the stately grace of her 
bearing, there was about her a charm of char- 
acter, force, individuality, which made her a 
person impossible to overlook and difficult to 
forget. 


32 The Chase of an Heiress 


Leslie had reason to be sure on the last 
point, since he had been engaged for a year in 
an attempt, which he flattered himself was 
very resolute, to forget her, and he had now 
the pleasing satisfaction of discovering that his 
efforts had been altogether unsuccessful. It 
needed but one look into her luminous grey 
eyes, one smile of her lips, to convince him of 
this, while as she now walked by his side, lithe, 
erect, incomparably graceful, he was conscious 
of an elation of spirit which nothing in the 
situation or his immediate prospects warranted. 

They were taking their way across the space 
of waste, weed -overgrown ground which lies 
between the wall and the ancient palace. At 
the back of the last some negro women — the 
same who had taken a brief interest in the ar- 
rival of the ship — were engaged in washing 
clothes, while the head of a donkey looked 
pensively from the doorway of one of the lower 
rooms, converted into a stable. Passing around 
to the side of the building toward the city, 
where some fragments of sculpture still remain- 
ing over a great archway showed that here had 
been the grand entrance, they found a row of 


The Story of the Quest 33 

huts leaning against the still massive wall, 
around the doors of which children of various 
colours and in various degrees of undress were 
playing, while one or two slatternly women 
and a soldier in dirty white-linen uniform, who 
were talking together, paused to stare at them. 

“ How have the mighty fallen! ” said Leslie, 
falling himself into the commonplace of quota- 
tion, which under certain circumstances it is 
difficult to avoid. “ And how deeply Santo 
Domingo appears to value these relics of an- 
tiquity which make evident to all men the 
historical associations of which you have 
spoken ! ” 

“ Santo Domingo treats them with the in- 
difference that a barbarian naturally feels to- 
ward relics of antiquity,'’ replied Miss Chesney. 

But I think one has seen the same thing in 
some other parts of the world with more claims 
to civilisation than this unhappy island now 
possesses.” 

” That is quite true,” Leslie admitted. 
” But is the whole of Santo Domingo either 
ruinous or squalid ? ” 

” Certainly not. In the centre of the city 
3 


34 The Chase of an Heiress 


are fine old Spanish buildings still intact. We 
lodge in one of them, built of stone, and solid 
as the day it was erected. You see, papa and 
I are such travellers that we have thoroughly 
mastered the art of making ourselves comfort- 
able, and since life at Felipe’s — the best, in 
fact one might say the only, hotel here — proved 
altogether unbearable, we rented three fur- 
nished rooms, engaged a servant, and set up a 
vi^nage of our own.” 

” Do you think, then, of staying here for 
any length of time ? ” 

” For a few weeks only ; but why should one 
not make one’s self comfortable, if it were only 
for a few days ? ” 

” I am so far from perceiving any reason 
why one should not that I would like to emu- 
late your energy, only I do not know if I shall 
remain here even for so long a time as a few 
days.” 

” Where are you going ? ” 

” That I cannot tell until I am able to learn 
where the person of whom I am in search is to 
be found.” 

” Oh, your lost heir! You must not forget 


The Story of the Quest 35 

that you are to tell me the story. Papa, what 
do you think has brought Mr. Leslie to Santo 
Domingo ? ” 

I really have not considered the subject," 
replied Mr. Chesney. " It never occurs to 
me to speculate on the private affairs of my 
friends." 

Papa, that is a horrid snub, and quite un- 
deserved by me. Mr. Leslie volunteered the 
information regarding his business — at least, I 
think you volunteered it [addressing Leslie], 
but if you did not, it does n’t signify. He 
has come on a search for a lost heir." 

" A lost heir to what ? " 

" He will tell us that presently. Now sup- 
pose we take a carriage." — They had by this 
time descended from the hill to the street lead- 
ing from the gate. — " The sun is too warm for 
walking, and here comes one with a horse in 
passable condition." 

The cochero of the carriage in question had 
already halted, with an inviting gesture toward 
the empty cushions behind him, and when 
they entered upon possession of the same, he 
drove off at a smart pace up the steep street 


36 The Chase of an Heiress 


which lay before them. This street, although 
lined at first with insignificant wooden houses 
of modern erection, presently leads into the 
portion of the city where the ancient buildings 
spoken of by Miss Chesney exist — stone build- 
ings, dark and time-stained, but of massive 
solidity, their thick walls, immense doorways, 
grated windows, carved balconies, and long 
water-spouts protruding at the eaves like bat- 
teries of guns, all recalling towns in Southern 
Spain, Mexico, and Cuba, and belonging in 
every detail to the Spanish architecture of the 
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 

“ Yes, it is all immensely picturesque,” Miss 
Chesney agreed, when Leslie expressed himself 
surprised at the scenes through which they 
rolled. ” It is, of course, very like Spain, 
with bits that remind one of Algiers and 
Tunis ; and there are some delightful old 
churches here. The cathedral is very fine.” 

Is that a ruin ? ” 

How exceedingly well informed you are, 
Mr. Leslie! No, it is not a ruin. It is a 
noble church in an excellent state of preserva- 
tion, which contains the ashes of Columbus.” 


The Story of the Quest 37 

“ I suppose by that classical expression you 
mean his body/’ 

“ I mean [with asperity] just what I say. 
Of course those ashes were once his body.” 

” I was only about to remark that I had seen 
that, or at least the place where it is buried, in 
Havana, when I was there a few years ago.” 

“You saw,” corrected Mr. Chesney, 
promptly, “ the place where the body of 
Diego Columbus, which was taken away by 
the Spaniards, through mistake, for that of his 
father, is buried. The true body of Columbus 
is here, and has always remained here. I will 
take pleasure in going over the proofs for you, 
if you like.” 

“ And I will show you his tomb,” said Miss 
Chesney, as if that must be most convincing 
of all. “ Meanwhile, here we are at the Plaza, 
and yonder is the cathedral.” 

Their carriage had turned suddenly out of 
the narrow street along which they had been 
driving, into a spacious open square lined on 
three sides by buildings chiefly devoted to 
government use, and on the fourth by the long 
fortress-like mass of the cathedral, marvellously 


38 The Chase of an Heiress 


quaint and picturesque. Immediately in front 
of its great doorway, and occupying the centre 
of the Plaza, an heroic bronze statue of Colum- 
bus stands on a commanding pedestal, the 
figure, admirably dignified and noble, pointing 
westward. 

“ Fine, is n’t it ? ” said Miss Chesney. 
“You have no idea how impressive it looks by 
moonlight. Our rooms are yonder, and from 
the balcony I have a view of the Plaza, the 
statue, and the cathedral. I will take you 
over and show you the cathedral after break- 
fast, if you like.” 

Leslie was still declaring that nothing could 
afford him more pleasure than to be introduced 
by such a guide to the antiquities of the 
cathedral of Santo Domingo, when the car- 
riage stopped before a house on the corner of 
a street leading into the Plaza. Descending, 
they entered under a heavy archway, so large 
and dark that it appeared almost cavernous, 
with a flagged court beyond, and, passing up a 
winding stone staircase at one side, emerged 
on an upper gallery or corridor running around 
this court. Here large doors admitted to a 


The Story of the Quest 39 

suite of apartments which occupied the entire 
front of the house. The spacious sitting-room 
looked as if heat could never invade it, with its 
lofty ceiling, its tiled floor, and the great thick- 
ness of the walls, apparent at the windows, 
which opened on a stone, iron-railed balcony. 
The furniture was of Vienna bent-wood, and 
was scanty in every particular save that of 
chairs. Miss Chesney laughed as she pointed 
to the number of these. 

“ Of course they were arranged in a double 
row, facing each other, straight down the 
middle of the room,” she said. ” They looked 
so ghostly that I broke up the line at once, 
and now they look desolate, as if they don’t 
know what to do with themselves, scattered 
about in what they no doubt consider a shock- 
ingly disordered and promiscuous manner.” 

” I had never imagined before that chairs 
were endowed with sentiments of propriety,” 
Leslie remarked, as he obeyed an invitation to 
seat himself, while Miss Chesney, after glanc- 
ing at a table laid for breakfast in the centre 
of the room, went out and called, “Antonio! ” 
Then came a sound of fluent Spanish conversa- 


40 The Chase of an Heiress 


tion, followed by that of feet flying rapidly 
down-stairs, after which the young hostess re- 
entered, announced that breakfast would be 
served in a few minutes, and disappeared be- 
hind the chintz portieres which draped the 
door of her chamber. 

By the time she reappeared, her hat laid 
aside, herself delightfully cool and fresh in as- 
pect, Antonio, a slim, mahogany-coloured lad, 
fleet as Mercury, had also made his appearance, 
bearing breakfast. 

It was a pleasant little feast which followed, 
one of those impromptu social occasions which 
are much more agreeable than any premedi- 
tated entertainment. The friends who had 
met so unexpectedly in this remote spot had 
many things in common to talk of, and it was 
not until they had at last risen from table that 
the subject of Leslie’s business in Santo Do- 
mingo was again introduced. 

“ I have not heard that story yet,” said Miss 
Chesney, as she sat down in one of the great 
bent-wood chairs beside a window and looked 
reproachfully at Leslie. 

” But you shall hear it,” he said, only too 


The Story of the Quest 41 

glad of any excuse for prolonging his stay. 
He drew a chair in front of her, disregarding 
Mr. Chesney’s assurance that he might light a 
cigar, — the room was so large, so airy, and 
“ Katherine did not mind," — but, leaving that 
gentleman to smoke his own cigar, while he 
opened a newspaper which had fortunately 
been in his (Leslie’s) pocket, he addressed 
himself to the grey eyes that regarded him 
with such smiling interest. 

" I suppose I must begin at the beginning," 
he said. " Did you ever hear of old David 
Ancram ? No ? " — as Miss Chesney shook her 
head. " Well, millionaires are so common in 
these days that merely to be rich insures a man 
no distinction, unless his riches are fabulous. 
Old David’s were not fabulous; but he was 
very well off indeed, with several millions, and 
no family to assist him in spending them." 

" It is dreadful to think of so much money 
being wasted for lack of somebody to spend 
it," said Miss Chesney, feelingly. " Why 
had n’t he a family ? " 

" Wife died, had no children, and he never 
tried the experiment again. We may suppose 


42 The Chase of an Heiress 


him inconsolable, or we may suppose him dis- 
gusted ; but he remained satisfied with his in- 
vestments, his stocks and bonds, until he grew 
old and infirm, when he summoned a niece to 

take care of him, and presently died " 

“ Leaving his fortune to her ? " 

“ Not at all. Leaving her a trifle of half a 
million or so, and leaving all the rest of his 
estate to the heirs of his brother, Thomas 
Ancram, to whom, he states in his will, he was 
indebted for his early start and subsequent 
success in life.’’ 

“ Gratitude is a very commendable senti- 
ment,” said Miss Chesney. ” But why should 
he have waited until he made his will to testify 
it ? ” 

” That is a question which might apply to 
many will-makers, but which, not having been 
honoured with the confidence of the late Mr. 
Ancram, I am not in a position to answer. 
Suffice it to say, as story-tellers observe, that 
the will stands as I have told you, naturally to 

the great dissatisfaction of the niece ’ ' 

Really [with severity], I think she might 
be satisfied with half a million.” 


The Story of the Quest 43 

“ When are people ever satisfied with much 
when they think they should have more ? 
This lady — perhaps I should say young lady, 
since she is about thirty-five — is not at all 
satisfied, but has hopes of still inheriting the 
whole fortune if the heirs of Thomas Ancram 
cannot be found.” 

” And therefore you have come on her be- 
half ” 

” Again, not at all. I have come on behalf 
of the executors, to find, if possible, the lost 
heir or heirs.” 

” But what has become of him, or them ? 
and why should you be conducting your search 
in Santo Domingo ? ” 

” Because it appears that half a century ago, 
just when David Ancram began to mount the 
hill of success, Thomas Ancram began to de- 
scend, and, having met with severe business 
losses, went to South America to retrieve his 
fortune by going into coffee. Apparently he 
did not succeed, for on his death his son drifted 
to the West Indies, and, varying the family 
pursuit, went into sugar. He was heard of in 
various islands, and finally lost sight of in 


44 The Chase of an Heiress 


Cuba, where he lived for some time and mar- 
ried. Diligent inquiry at length elicited the 
fact that he had, on the death of his wife, left 
Cuba for Santo Domingo. Beyond that, no 
information seemed obtainable : so I was finally 
requested by my uncle to come here and find 
him, if he is alive, or obtain proof of his death, 
if dead.” 

” And what have you accomplished ? ” 

” I have found that he is dead — unquestion- 
ably dead and buried.” 

” Oh! ” in a disappointed tone. ” Then he 
will never inherit his fortune, and the niece — 
grasping, creature, I am sure — will get it all.” 

” He will certainly never inherit it, but I am 
not so sure of the niece getting it. He left a 

daughter ” 

” Ah! ” 

” A daughter who must now be grown, and 
of whom I am at present in search.” 

Why, this grows romantic!” cried Miss 
Chesney, with animation. ” A daughter, 
ignorant of the great fortune awaiting her, 
living in obscurity, young, beautiful per- 
haps ’ ’ 


The Story of the Quest 45 

“ Or perhaps not.” 

” Oh, she must be beautiful. I can’t think 
of entertaining any other idea. Then here 

are you, young ” 

Pray, don’t fail to say handsome.” 

” Well, good-looking, at least, interest- 
ing ” 

” A thousand thanks! ” 

” to a girl who has presumably never 

before seen any man of the world ” 

” How much sharper than a serpent’s tooth 
is the unkind sarcasm of one who has no pity 
for human vanity ! ” observed Leslie, feelingly. 

” A gentleman,” pursued Miss Chesney, re- 
morselessly, ” whose fortune does not equal 
his merits, but who has now an opportunity to 
appear to the beautiful heiress in the character 
of deliverer and benefactor, and, winning her 
heart, — which she will of course surrender with- 
out difficulty, — win also the millions which en- 
circle her like a halo.” 

” A very pretty romance,” said Leslie, as 
she paused. ” It is a pity that it is open to 
one or two objections: for example, that the 
lady in question, instead of being a beautiful 


46 The Chase of an Heiress 


girl, may have been married long since to some 
Dominican and be at present the mother of 
half a dozen children, or that the gentleman 
whose fortune is below his merits has no fancy 
for savages, even though possibly beautiful 
and certainly possessing a halo of millions.” 

“How shameful to speak of her as a savage ! 
Why should you do so ? ” 

He made a contemptuous gesture of his 
hand. “ How could anyone be brought up 
and live here, and be anything else — from our 
point of view ? ” 

“ I don’t know what your point of view may 
be,” returned Miss Chesney, “ but from my 
point of view there is no reason whatever for 
such an opinion. My experience of the world 
— and I have had a great deal, if travel in 
many lands can give it — is that very delightful 
people may sometimes be found in very ob- 
scure places. In fact, such people, though 
they may not possess the surface polish which 
intercourse with society gives, are often in- 
teresting, cultivated, refined ” 

“ Paragons, in short, produced by a judi- 
cious course of plain living and high thinking,” 


The Story of the Quest 47 

said Leslie, with an irreverent smile. “ There 
may be portions of the world where such 
people exist, but I hardly fancy that Santo 
Domingo is one of them.” 

“ Pray, why not ? ” 

“ Oh, it is too remote, too world-forgotten, 
too much given up to half-breeds, despotism, 
and revolution.” 

” None of which causes should make Miss — 
what is her name ? Ancram ? — a savage. I 
hope that you will fall desperately in love with 
her, and that she will scorn you — there! ” 
“You overwhelm me with kindness. But 
now ” — rising reluctantly — “ I really must tear 
myself away. I have yet to look after my 
luggage, secure some sort of lodging, inquire 

about my heiress ” 

“ All of those things can wait a little,” said 
Miss Chesney. “ You forget that I promised 
to show you the cathedral.” 

“ I had not forgotten it, but I feared you 

might be tired. Later, perhaps ” 

“ There can be no later for the cathedral. 
It is inexorably closed for the day after the last 
mass. We have barely time enough to reach 


48 The Chase of an Heiress 


there before that hour. But fortunately the 
sacristan knows me — papa and I have been 
there so much — and if we can get in, there will 
be no difficulty about getting out. So let us 
make haste. Papa, will you go ? ” 

“ I think not, my dear. I find myself quite 
tired from our long walk. You can explain to 
Mr. Leslie all about the tomb of Columbus.” 

” Yes, I think I could stand an examination 
on the subject. Don’t look so reluctant, Mr. 
Leslie. It is necessary that your mind should 
be improved, and that you should understand 
that Santo Domingo possesses the true and 
only body of Christopher Columbus. So 
come.” 




CHAPTER IV 

A CATHEDRAL DRAMA 

I N extenuation of a delay which he afterward 
found cause to regret, Leslie endeavoured 
to picture himself as reluctantly yielding to 
temptation when he accompanied Miss Ches- 
ney to the cathedral. But in point of fact 
there was no reluctance whatever in his feeling, 
as he flung all consideration of his heiress over- 
board without the least hesitation, and, walk- 
ing with his companion across the Plaza, 
entered the ancient church. 

He was surprised to find the interior of the 
edifice so stately and magnificent. Nothing 
that he had seen of the island of Santo Do- 
mingo up to this time — that is, the succession 
of wooden-built towns of the various ports at 
which the ship he made his voyage upon had 
touched — at all prepared him for this noble 


49 


50 The Chase of an Heiress 


church, so vast and massive in its outward as- 
pect, so beautiful and imposing within. En- 
tering by the great western doorway, a nave of 
grand proportions stretched before them, with 
glistening marble floor and majestic pillars sup- 
porting a finely groined roof. The unexpected 
effect drew an exclamation from Leslie, but his- 
companion placed her finger on her lip and 
pointed to a chapel where a priest was saying 
mass, while a group of worshippers knelt on 
the pavement before it. 

Don’t sustain the character for bad man- 
ners in holy places which Americans bear in 
only less degree than the English,” she whis- 
pered. “ Let us wait until that mass is over. 
It will not be long, and these people are not 
accustomed to see tourists walking about the 
church at such times.” 

” By all means,” assented Leslie, who was 
not only too well bred to have been knowingly 
guilty of the bad manners in question, but who, 
reverence apart, was not sorry to pause for 
a few minutes and take in the general effect of 
the noble interior more fully before proceeding 
to examine its details. 


A Cathedral Drama 


51 


At intervals along the sides of the nave 
benches of dark carved wood were placed 
against the massive pillars, and on one of these 
Miss Chesney sat down, her companion follow- 
ing her example. Farther up the church, 
divided from them by the width of the nave 
and the right aisle, was the chapel where mass 
was in progress. No one noticed them, and 
they remained silent and quiet for several 
minutes, Leslie engaged in studying the beauti- 
ful details of the chapels, when their attention 
was attracted by two figures suddenly appear- 
ing in the great doorway through which they 
had entered. A young girl attended by an 
elderly servant — so much was apparent at a 
glance. And this glance would have no doubt 
comprised all the notice that either of them 
was likely to bestow, had not something a 
little singular, or at least out of the usual order, 
taken place. The attendant walked into the 
church without turning her head to right or 
left, and, instead of proceeding toward the 
chapel where mass was being said, at once 
knelt down within a few feet of the door. The 
girl paused in the act of entering, and, glanc- 


52 The Chase of an Heiress 


ing to one side, seemed to hesitate. But this 
hesitation was not of long duration. A hand 
and part of an arm belonging to an unseen 
person (evidently masculine) outside appeared, 
seized her by the wrist, and drew her out of 
sight. 

Miss Chesney and Leslie involuntarily 
glanced at each other. 

“ Are maidens here liable to be waylaid and 
captured at the church doors ? ” inquired the 
latter. “ A step farther and she would have 
gained the privilege of sanctuary. It seems to 
be a case that calls for rescue.” 

“ It is a case that calls for the dismissal of 
that old woman,” replied Miss Chesney, look- 
ing indignantly at the servant, who as soon as 
she fell upon her knees had become to all ap- 
pearances altogether absorbed in devotion. 
” She has been sent with that girl to take care 
of her, and this is how she does it.” 

” She was very careful not to glance in the 
direction from which that hand appeared,” 
said Leslie, smiling. 

” Nor to turn her head to ascertain whether 
or not her charge followed her into the 


A Cathedral Drama 


53 


church/' added Miss Chesney. “ She is, of 
course, in the pay of the man outside." 

Do you suppose it is an elopement ? " 
Only a clandestine meeting, I fancy. 
Elopement is not easy here." 

"It is evidently the old romance of a for- 
bidden love-affair." 

" Yes, if you think there can be romance in 
deception and double-dealing, which is what 
such a love-affair generally means." 

How deplorably lacking in romantic sym- 
pathies you are ! " * 

" There may be a difference of opinion as to 
what constitutes romance. The sympathy of 
the world never seems to me so misplaced as 
when it is bestowed upon an affair of the kind. 
Now those two outside yonder are no doubt 
at this moment violating the trust of others 
and setting all considerations of duty at de- 
fiance." 

"You don’t know what excuse they may 
have in parental tyranny." 

" I know that in nine cases out of ten the 
parents are right and the so-called lovers 
wrong, mere selfish young fools. But see. 


54 The Chase of an Heiress 


the duenna grows a little uneasy. Did you 
observe that glance she cast behind ? " 

“ She thinks the interview is lasting too 
long. Shall I stroll out, and, by my appear- 
ance, startle the lovers into separating ? I am 
afraid someone will see them, and carry the 
news of their meeting to a hard-hearted parent 
or guardian." 

" Your interest would be touching if one did 
not suspect that its root is more in curiosity 
than in sympathy. Confess that you want to 
see the heroine of this episode more closely." 

" And the hero also. I should like to see 
the form to which that impetuous hand be- 
longs." 

" Ah, there it is again," murmured Miss 
Chesney, who was looking at the door. 

Leslie’s glance quickly followed hers, and 
there indeed was the girl once more in sight, 
and again on her arm, evidently detaining her 
by a strong grasp, the hand that had drawn 
her back. There seemed for a moment a 
rapid, almost fierce, interchange of words — at 
least the manner of the girl was fierce — then, 
suddenly tearing herself loose from the hand 


A Cathedral Drama 


55 


which still strove to detain her, she walked 
quickly into the church and mechanically fell 
on her knees beside the servant who had ac- 
companied her and who now looked around at 
her apprehensively. 

Nor was she alone in looking. Both Miss 
Chesney and Leslie stared at the object of their 
interest, thus brought immediately before 
them. And both had reason to stare, for a 
lovelier face, or one more indicative of ungov- 
erned passion, it would have been difficult to 
find. The complexion, of a fairness quite re- 
markable for a Dominican woman, was just 
now flushed with colour which burned like a 
vivid flame on each cheek; and this, together 
with the lips of deepest scarlet and the great 
dark eyes dilated and full of fire, under straight 
dark knitted brows, gave an impression of 
possibilities of feeling and action hardly less 
startling than the astonishing beauty of the 
countenance — picturesque, vivid, glowing with 
colour as some rich-hued tropical flower. 

“ By Jove! ” Leslie could not refrain from 
exclaiming to his companion, in a tone by no 
means so discreet as it should have been, 


56 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ what a beautiful girl! — and what a furious 
passion she is in ! ” 

No sooner had the words left his lips than 
the girl turned her head and shot at him a 
glance which, if looks could scorch, might have 
annihilated him, so blazing was its indignant 
fire. 

“You see,” said Miss Chesney, in a tone 
more discreet than his own, “ that she under- 
stands English. I think we had better change 
our places, or I shall have you reduced to a 
cinder before my eyes. What a passion the 
girl is in ! ” she added, as they rose and strolled 
away. “ I don’t envy the person who roused 
it, nor those who have to hold such a fiery 
creature in check.” 

“ She does not look as if she would submit 
to be held in check by anyone,” said Leslie. 
“ Those lips and eyes indicate a nature so 
wild, passionate, and headstrong that it would 
be capable of the most desperate defiance. 
But there is no doubt of her beauty.” 

“Not the least,” agreed Miss Chesney. “I 
wonder who she is. Few Dominicans are so 
fair, and fewer still understand English.” 


A Cathedral Drama 


57 


“ And I wonder who is the owner of the 
hand, and what he did to enrage her so 
deeply. It is a pity that we shall probably 
never know anything further concerning this 
fragment of a drama which we have witnessed.” 

” There is no ‘ probably ’ about it,” replied 
Miss Chesney, decidedly. ” We shall certainly 
never know any more about it : how could we ? 
But then you can imagine anything you like, 
and one so romantically inclined as yourself 
will be in no doubt how to end the drama.” 

” What powers of unkind sarcasm you pos- 
sess! But, however romantically inclined I 
may be, — which is a new light thrown upon 
my character, — I should be at a loss how to 
imagine an end to this drama. That girl’s 
passion is of a kind to make or cause tragedy.” 

” Oh, I don’t think so. It is merely the 
rage of an undisciplined child.” 

” Undisciplined children grown to woman’s 
estate are often the causes of tragedies.” 

” Very true. But we will hope that nothing 
worse than a burst of temper or of tears is im- 
pending in this case. And now, if you can 
divert your mind sufficiently from the drama 


58 The Chase of an Heiress 


and its heroine, we will begin to consider the 
antiquities which surround us, since the priest 
has now finished his mass.” 

Leslie signifying that his mind was suffi- 
ciently disengaged for this purpose, and the 
congregation beginning to melt away. Miss 
Chesney addressed a sacristan who was starting 
with a huge bunch of keys to lock the doors of 
the church, but who obligingly paused to lead 
them into the capilla mayor (or sanctuary) 
which by royal cedula of the Emperor Charles 
the Fifth was granted as the burial-place of 
Columbus. Opening a small aperture on the 
gospel side, he showed, first the empty vault 
from which the Spaniards imagined that they 
had removed the great Admiral’s bones in 1795, 
and then the (now also empty) vault where 
they were so unexpectedly discovered in 1887. 

“ I wonder if the last really were his re- 
mains,” remarked Leslie, with the pardonable 
incredulity of ignorance, as he peered into the 
narrow dark space where ashes so illustrious 
had rested unknown and unsuspected for close 
upon a century. ” It seems almost incredible 
that any mistake could have been possible.” 


A Cathedral Drama 


59 


Not incredible at all/’ said Miss Chesney. 
“ There is nothing more credible when you 
hear the details; in fact, nothing more certain. 
Papa will tell you all about it, and give you 
any number of pamphlets on the subject to 
read. But the case lies in a nutshell. It was 
known that the body of Columbus was here, 
but there was nothing to indicate the exact 
place of burial, except a tradition that it was 

on the gospel side of the altar ” 

“ Excuse my interrupting you, but surely it 
was strange that there should have been no 
inscription of any kind to mark the grave 
of a man so famous ? ” 

“ If you did not interrupt me, Mr. Leslie, I 
would anticipate your objections. It might 
be strange, if we did not take into considera- 
tion the terrible history of this island, particu- 
larly the ravages of the English buccaneers. 
The pirate Drake, when he sacked Santo Do- 
mingo, — one of his cannon-balls, by the bye, is 
still embedded in the roof of this cathedral, — 
not only destroyed all records, but desecrated 
everything holy on which he could lay his 
hands. It was not to be supposed that he 


6o The Chase of an Heiress 


would spare the graves of the dead: so the 
archbishop ordered that the tombs should as 
far as possible be concealed, which no doubt 
accounts for the fact that there was no inscrip- 
tion, sign, or symbol to guide the Spaniards 
when they made their search for the body of 
Columbus/’ 

‘‘ It was rather hard on them to have been 
so deceived.” 

” It was nobody’s fault, and I confess there 
seems to me a poetical justice in it. I think 
one may imagine the spirit of Columbus smil- 
ing, well pleased, when the bones of his son 
were borne with great pomp to Havana, while 
his own remained undisturbed where he had 
desired they should rest, in his beloved His- 
pafiola. No, I am glad his tomb was hidden, 
I am glad it is still here. And the Dominicans 
are glad too. It is said that the people went 
wild with joy when they learned that the ashes 
were still in their keeping. Come now and see 
his present resting-place.” 

She led the way over to the opposite side of 
the church, where in the noble chapel of the 
Adelantado Rodrigo de Bastides, who died 


A Cathedral Drama 


6i 


military governor of Hispaftola in 1527, and 
there lies interred with his wife and child, are 
the finely carved doors of the vault in which 
now rest the earthly remains of the heroic sailor 
who gave a new world to Castile and Leon and 
himself died a broken-hearted wanderer. 

But the tomb of Columbus is only the first 
of the attractions of this, the most interesting 
as it is the most ancient cathedral of the New 
World. The pages of history are turned back 
four hundred years as one paces its spacious 
aisles and pauses at each historic chapel. One 
would not marvel to meet any figure here, — not 
Las Casas, the passionate friend and defender 
of the native races, his worn face full of fiery 
zeal and ardour under his monk's hood, not 
the lion-hearted soldier Ojeda, who sleeps in 
the ruins of the great Franciscan church near 
by, not Bartholomew Columbus, who gave the 
city that name which the whole island now 
bears, nor yet the mail-clad conquerors of 
Mexico or Peru, such soldiers of fortune as the 
world has never seen before or since. These 
and unnumbered others are the figures with 
which fancy fills the great spaces, while the 


62 The Chase of an Heiress 


eye is resting on richly carved and gilded altars, 
on paintings by Murillo and Velasquez, and on 
ancient tombs covered with heraldic carving. 

“ And now," said Miss Chesney at length, 
“ we must not trespass longer on the patience 
of my excellent friend, the sacristan, although 
I have no doubt he would courteously wait for 
hours if necessary. What shall you give 
him ? Oh, a peseta, if you like." 

From the fervour of the sacristan’s " Muchas 
graciaSj seftor,'* and the lowness of his bow as 
he ushered them out of the door, which he im- 
mediately locked behind them, it is to be sup- 
posed that something larger than the peseta 
recommended found its way into his palm, 
but, whatever it was, Leslie felt as if his bene- 
diction might accompany it to one who even 
indirectly had aided in giving him the pleasure 
of the last hour. Leaving the tempered light 
of the cool church and stepping into the bril- 
liant tropical sunshine and tropical heat outside 
proved, however, a salutary measure toward 
bringing his mind back from the contemplation 
of the past to the business of the present. 
With a murmured apology he glanced at his 


A Cathedral Drama 63 

watch, and was astonished to find how much 
of the day was gone. 

“ I am afraid I have detained you too long,” 
said Miss Chesney, catching his surprised ex- 
clamation. “You must excuse me.” 

Excuse you ! Why, I owe you a thousand 
thanks for a most delightful morning,” he re- 
plied, with evident sincerity. “ I don’t know 
when I have enjoyed anything so much. But 
I must now go and begin inquiring about my 
heiress. ’ ’ 

“ Where are you going to make your in- 
quiries ? ” 

My first step will be to seek a man who, I 
am told, can give me the information I desire. 
I was assured at Monte-Cristi, where I stopped, 
the last news of Ancram having come from 
there, that, Ancram himself being dead, the 
best person to give me news of his daughter 
was a German merchant here in Santo Do- 
mingo, named Herresdorf. ” 

“ Did Ancram die at Monte-Cristi ? ” 

“ No, he died at Santiago, in the interior; 
but I did not think it necessary to go there, 
since I met a man who was with him when he 


64 The Chase of an Heiress 


died, and who promised to obtain all the cer- 
tificates for me.” 

They were walking slowly across the Plaza as 
he said this, and when he finished. Miss Ches- 
ney suddenly stood still. 

” Santiago!” she repeated. ‘‘ Is n’t that 
where Mr. Stanford said he had been ? ” 

” Yes, I think he did say so. Why ? ” 

” Because a thought has struck me. What 
is his business here, do you know ? ” 

I have n’t the least idea. I had never 
spoken to the man before you introduced us.” 

” And, now I remember, nobody else knew 
— on the ship, I mean. Mr. Leslie, I am sure 
that man has come out here to look for the 
Ancram heir also.” 

” Oh, that ’s impossible; he could n’t, you 
know. Who would send him ? I ’m the only 
agent the executors have sent.” 

” Might n’t the niece have sent him ? ” 

” Why should she send him ? It is most 
distinctly not to her interest to look up the 
heir.” 

N-o — but — However [walking on brisk- 
ly], all this is mere speculation. Go and see 


A Cathedral Drama 


65 


your German merchant, and please remember 
that I shall be much interested in hearing the 
result of your inquiries. I think if I were in 
your place I would go to him at once.'' 

“ I am going to him at once. Don’t be 

afraid [with a laugh] : I have no intention 

of inflicting myself upon you any longer.” 

I should not allow you to do so [very 

coolly], but you may come to dinner at six 

o’clock this evening, if you like, and be sure 

to bring me some news of the heiress. Now 

here is my way, and there is yours. Hasta 

luego. ’ ’ 

5 




CHAPTER V 

“ THE BOATS HAVE LEFT ” 

I T was about an hour after he had parted from 
Miss Chesney that Leslie found himself be- 
fore the house to which he had been directed 
as that of Mr. Herresdorf. It was one of the 
old Spanish buildings, and when he passed 
through a lofty and massive doorway and 
turned to the right he found himself in what 
was apparently a counting-house, but which, 
owing to its thick walls and grated windows, 
was so dark to eyes fresh from outer sunshine 
that he could for a moment distinguish little 
beside the^figures of two or three men seated 
at desks. One of them, a slender, good-look- 
ing young fellow, rose and came to meet him. 

Buenos diaSy seTior, said Leslie, hesitatingly. 
“ Sefior Herresdorf, estd en casa ? 

66 


“The Boats have Left” 


67 


“You wish to see Sefior Herresdorf ? “ 
asked the young man, in good English, though 
with a foreign accent. — “ Father “ — he turned 
around as he spoke — “ here is a gentleman 
asking for you." 

There was a sound very like a grunt, but 
probably a German ejaculation, from a remote 
part of the room, and the next moment an 
elderly man of rotund figure, wearing spec- 
tacles, and of unmistakably Teutonic appear- 
ance, came forward. 

“ Good-day, sir," he said, also in excellent 
English. “You wish to see me ? " 

“ Yes," Leslie answered. “ I am the bearer 
of a letter for you from Mr. Neidermeyer of 
Monte-Cristi." And he offered the letter as 
he spoke. 

Mr. Herresdorf ejaculated, “ So! " received, 
opened, read it, and glanced curiously at the 
bearer. Then, saying, with more politeness, 
“ Come this way, if you please," he led him 
back to the end of the room whence he had 
emerged, gave him a chair beside the desk 
from which he had arisen, and seated himself 
directly before him. 


68 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ I learn from this letter/’ he then said, 
“ that you desire information concerning the 
daughter of Carlos Ancram.” 

“ That is why I am here,” Leslie replied. 
” I came to the island to look for Charles An- 
cram himself, and, stopping in Monte-Cristi, 
where he was last heard of, I learned that he 
had died in Santiago several years ago,” — Mr. 
Herresdorf nodded, — ” that his widow married 
again,” — Mr. Herresdorf again nodded, — “and 
that she had, with her second husband, gone 
to Santo Domingo City, taking the daughter 
of Ancram with her.” 

“ Who is not daughter, you understand,” 
said Mr. Herresdorf. 

“ Who is not her daughter, I have under- 
stood,” replied Leslie, “ but only a step- 
daughter whom she has retained in her charge. ’ ’ 

Mr. Herresdorf nodded yet again. “A kind 
act on her part,” he observed, “ for the girl 
has not a penny of her own.” 

“ Good actions are sometimes rewarded very 
unexpectedly,” said Leslie. “ The girl, if she 
is indeed the child of Charles Ancram, — which 
fact, I presume, is susceptible of proof, — will 


“ The Boats have Left ” 69 

soon possess more pennies of her own than she 
will know what to do with.” 

” So! ” The spectacled eyes beamed upon 
him with a strong accession of interest. ” She 
has inherited something ? ” 

“ A fortune of several million dollars.” 

Gott im Himmel ! ’ ’ exclaimed the German, 
relapsing in his astonishment into his native 
tongue. ” You are sure of this ? ” 

If she is the daughter of Charles Ancram, 
I am perfectly sure of it.” 

” Oh, she is his daughter,” said the other. 
” There is no doubt of that. But I never 
heard of any expectations: the father, poor 
Carlos, died in miserable poverty. How does 
this come about ? ” 

Leslie told him briefly — a recital to which he 
lent a most attentive ear — and then begged for 
information concerning the whereabouts of the 
girl. 

“ Yes, yes, I shall give you full informa- 
tion,” replied Mr. Herresdorf. He paused, 
however, and seemed to ponder deeply, until, 
as Leslie, growing impatient, was about to 
speak again, he lifted his head and fixed him 


70 The Chase of an Heiress 


with his bright, keen glance. “ But first,” he 
said, “ kindly give me a little information. 
Have you any connection with the gentleman 
who has already been here this morning on the 
same errand ? ” 

Great as was Leslie’s astonishment at this 
question, it was not so much astonishment for 
the fact communicated as for the apparently 
striking verification of Katherine Chesney’s 
intuition. For who could this inquirer have 
been save the man she suspected ? 

“ Has anyone been here on the same er- 
rand ? ” he asked. “You surprise me greatly. 
It was no one of whom I have any knowledge. 
What kind of person was the — gentleman ? ” 

Mr. Herresdorf turned over some papers, 
picked up a card which lay on his desk, and 
handed it to Leslie. “ Robert Stanford ” was 
written on it. 

“ She was right,” Leslie thought. ” But 
what possible object can the man have ? ” “I 
know the person bearing this name,” he said 
to Mr. Herresdorf, ” only because we were fel- 
low-passengers on the ship which arrived here 
this morning. My acquaintance with him is of 


“ The Boats have Left ” 


71 


the slightest, and I had not the least suspicion 
of his business. Nor, indeed, for that matter, 
have I now. I represent the legal adviser of 
the Ancram estate, and am here for the pur- 
pose of discovering and communicating with 
the heir or heirs of David Ancram, deceased. 
Whom this person represents, or why he 
should be interested in the matter, I do not 
know. Did he inform you ? ” 

Mr. Herresdorf shook his head. ‘‘ He did 
not speak to me of representing anyone," he 
said, " nor did he mention any inheritance. 
He simply asked where he could find the 
daughter of Charles Ancram, and I told 
him." 

"You did tell him?" 

" Yes. Why should I not ? " 

Unable to say why he should not, Leslie 
gazed at him in silence for a moment, con- 
scious of a deep sense of vexation, difficult to 
express in words. Mr. Herresdorf, after wait- 
ing an instant for his reply, proceeded : 

" I knew no reason for refusing to do so, 
although the request surprised me very much. 
For, you will understand, the girl has been a 


72 The Chase of an Heiress 


very insignificant person up to this time. 
Pretty, yes — people who think of such things 
regard her as pretty — but a penniless orphan, 
supported by the charity of her stepmother. 
That is not one for whom strangers are likely 
to come making inquiries. So I was surprised ; 
but I thought, ‘ Ach, no doubt he has seen 
her and liked her pretty face, and if he means 
well, why should I not help the girl to a chance 
to settle in life ? ’ " 

“ But did not the thought occur to you that 
this man, a stranger to you, might not mean 
well ? " interrupted Leslie, rather sternly. 

The German shrugged his shoulders. “ She 
has those whose duty it is to take care of her,” 
he replied. “It is not my duty. That was 
what I thought.” 

“ But you perceive now that you have prob- 
ably opened the way for a designing advent- 
urer, who has learned of her inheritance, to 
reach her and impose on her ignorance alike of 
life and of her own good fortune,” said Leslie. 
“ I think, sir, that as the friend of her father 
— I presume you were his friend — you might 
at least have paused before you gave the ad- 


'‘The Boats have Left” 


73 


dress of a young girl to a man of whom you 
knew nothing.” 

” And so I would,” returned the other, 
coolly, ” had I guessed the truth. But how 
could I guess ? It occurred to me that it 
would be a very good thing if Felisa were 
taken away from Santo Domingo, where she 
has no family, and where she might perhaps 
do much mischief ; and so I made a mistake. 
But it is, happily, not a mistake of great im- 
portance. It has not been two hours since 
this Mr. Stanford was here, and — Otto! ” He 
turned suddenly around in his chair and called 
the name sharply. One of the young men at 
the other end of the room, but not the one 
who had met Leslie, rose and approached. 
” Go,” said Mr. Herresdorf, speaking rapidly 
in Spanish, ” to the house of Dona Maria Es- 
tragu^s, and discover if her sister-in-law Dofia 
Lucia and Felisa Ancram have left there. 
Also, in case they have left, ascertain if any- 
one called to see them before their departure.” 

” 5/, senary** the young man replied, seized 
his hat with alacrity, and left the room. 

” And now, Mr. Leslie,” said the merchant, 


74 The Chase of an Heiress 


turning back, “ would you object to givdng me 
a few details about this inheritance while we 
wait Otto’s return ? ” 

Leslie, aware that there was no reason what- 
ever for concealment, gave him all the details 
he desired, and added that he was empowered 
to make any financial arrangements which 
should be necessary for the immediate passage 
to the States of the heir or heirs of Charles 
Ancram. 

“ And this reminds me to ask,” he added, 
” were there no children of the second mar- 
riage ? ” 

” Two,” Mr. Herresdorf answered, ” but 
they are both dead. Felisa, the only surviving 
child, is the heir, unless indeed the wife ” 

Leslie shook his head. ” A dead man can- 
not inherit,” he said. ” Had Charles Ancram 
survived his uncle even a day, his widow 
would be entitled to a share of the estate. 
But he has been dead, it appears, for five 
years.” 

” For at least five years.” 

” And David Ancram died only last year, 
bequeathing his property to the descendants 


“The Boats have Left” 


75 


of his brother Charles, of whom it appears 
there is but one, this girl — how do you call 
her ? 

“ Felisa/’ 

“ Who therefore inherits the whole estate." 

" And its value is " 

" Not less than four or five millions." 

" Gott im Himmel ! " said the German again, 
and then relapsed into silence and apparently 
profound thought. 

Leslie did not care to break either the silence 
or the meditation, and so they remained for 
several minutes longer, until the young man 
called Otto re-entered, as hastily as he had 
left, and addressed his employer: 

" They are gone, seftor. Dofta Maria says 
that they have been gone at least an hour. 
And a stranger — the gentleman who was 
here this morning — called just before their 
departure, and has accompanied them to Ro- 
sario." 

" What! " Mr. Herresdorf almost bounded 
from his chair. " He has accompanied them! 
God! what fools women are! Run, Otto, to 
the river. Perhaps the boat has not yet gone. 


76 The Chase of an Heiress 


If not, tell Gomez to wait until he hears from 
me: bid him on no account to leave." 

" What is it ? — what has occurred ? " asked 
Leslie, who had not understood a word, when, 
with another " Si, senor^' the young man 
again vanished. 

The German told him what had been said, 
adding: "You cannot regret more than I do 
that I should have given this man the inform- 
ation he asked, for I believe now that he has 
some sinister object in view. But who could 
have imagined that Dofia Lucia would be such 
a fool as to suffer him to accompany her to 
Rosario ! " 

Remember that Dona Lucia is presumably 
ignorant regarding the millions," said Leslie, 
with a sarcasm which he did not attempt to 
restrain. " What is Rosario ? " 

"It is the estate of which Estragu^s — the 
man who married Ancram’s widow — is man- 
ager. It belongs to a rich Cuban." 

" And where is it ? " 

" On the Ozama River, half a day’s journey 
above here." 

4 4 


By steamboat ? " 


“ The Boats have Left ” 


77 


“ There are no steamboats on the Ozama. 
By the boats which come down loaded with 
sugar and are towed back by a steam-tug/’ 

“ And it is in this manner that these people 
have gone at present ? ” 

“ Yes, if they have gone at all. I hope that 
they may not yet have started. There is gen- 
erally much delay in the departure of these 
boats — in fact, in everything in this country, 
as you have no doubt already observed. But 
it will serve us well at present, this habit of 
delay ” 

“ I would be willing to wager a good deal,” 
said Leslie, ” that on this occasion the boat 
departed promptly on time.” 

He proved to be right. A few minutes later 
the breathless messenger again returned. 

” The Rosario boats left as soon as the ladies 
went down, seftor,” was his report. ” They 
have been gone an hour.” 




CHAPTER VI 

FRIENDS IN COUNCIL 

[ SUPPOSE,” said Leslie, when he met 
Miss Chesney in the evening, ” that you 
share the common trait of human nature in 
liking to be proved right in your judgment and 
conclusions ? ” 

” Can you doubt it ? ” she replied. ” Does 
not everyone like to be proved right ? But, 
according to papa, I like it particularly well.” 

” Then lam glad to have some pleasant in- 
telligence to communicate to you. You were 
right in divining the business which brought 
that fellow Stanford to Santo Domingo.” 

” Ah ! He has come after the heiress, 
then ? ” 

” He has not only come after her, but he 
has so far the advantage of me that he has 
found her.” 


78 


Friends in Council 


79 


“ Found her ! Where ? — how ? ” 

‘‘ Where ? Here in Santo Domingo. How? 
By the use, of that peculiar diligence which is 
commended to us in the maxim that ‘ it is the 
early bird which catches the worm.’ Mr. 
Stanford was the early bird in this case, and 
he successfully caught his worm — that is, the 
heiress — while I was studying the antiquities 
of the cathedral this morning under your able 
guidance.” 

” Oh, Mr. Leslie, I am so sorry! It was my 
fault that you went there.” 

” Not at all. You must not think so for a 
moment. No doubt [mendaciously] I should 
have gone whether you had kindly proposed 
accompanying me or not. You see, I had not 
the faintest idea that there was any occasion 
for haste. How could I possibly imagine that 
the girl was here in Santo Domingo this morn- 
ing, or that she would leave before I could ob- 
tain her address ? ” 

” Has she gone ? But in that case Mr. 
Stanford ” 

” He has gone with her.” 

Miss Chesney collapsed in her chair. ” Good 


8o The Chase of an Heiress 


heavens! ” she murmured. “ Tell me all about 
it." 

By the time he finished his story, she was 
again sitting upright with bent brows, giving 
her whole mind to consideration of the situa- 
tion. " What are you going to do ? " was her 
first question. 

“ By Mr. Herresdorf’s advice, I am going to 
follow her to this place called Rosario — a sugar 
estate up the river. I was at first inclined 
simply to send a messenger with a letter; but 
he urged me so strongly to go in person that I 
have yielded to his advice. He blames him- 
self severely for having given Stanford the in- 
formation he sought, — in fact, he seems terribly 
concerned about it, — and is very anxious that 
the truth shall be made known to the girl and 
her guardians as soon as possible." 

" Do you suppose Stanford has not made it 
known to them ? " 

" We are in absolute ignorance of how much 
Stanford knows, or what his intention may be 
in seeking the girl. We can only suppose he 
is an adventurer who, having learned of her 
inheritance, has found some plausible pretext 


Friends in Council 


8i 


for making her acquaintance, his object being 
to marry her/’ 

There is nothing more likely. It would cer- 
tainly be the object of an adventurer; and in 
that case he would not tell her of the fortune 
until he had accomplished his end.” 

” That is what Mr. Herresdorf thinks. You 
should see the distress of this worthy German. 
Not for the girl, you understand — the girl, he 
admits, he considered of no consequence what- 
ever, and without hesitation gave her address 
to this stranger — but for the millions! ‘ Five 
millions!’ he repeats, as if the mere words 
fascinate him. ‘ And I gave that scoundrel a 
chance to secure them! Oh, my good sir,’ — 
this pathetically to me, — ‘ why did you not 
come to me without delay! 

” Mercenary old wretch! ” said Miss Ches- 
ney. ” I have no sympathy for his distress. 
But he is right in so far that the delay was un- 
fortunate, since it enabled the man to steal a 
march on you in this manner. How do you 
suppose that he learned anything about the 
heiress or her fortune ? ” 

” I can throw no light on that. It seems 
6 


82 The Chase of an Heiress 


pretty evident, however, that he has learned 
the facts of the case, for the journey to San- 
tiago certainly implies, as you suggested, that 
his business on the island, like my own, was 
to find the heirs of David Ancram. But 
whether he represents anyone, or is merely an 
adventurer anxious to obtain some hold upon 
the girl before she knows of her good fortune, 
it is impossible to say. I incline to the last 
opinion.” 

” But he could hardly have come out from 
New York with that idea in his mind, since the 
journey to Santiago also implies that, like 
yourself, he was looking primarily for Charles 
Ancram. There he found the record of his 
death and learned of the existence of the 
daughter. Then it is possible that other views 
and intentions may have developed them- 
selves.” 

” All that is probable ; but then what 
prompted him to come in the first place ? — by 
whom could he have been sent ? ” 

“You were not born for a detective, Mr. 
Leslie. In order to answer that question, 
is n’t it necessary to ask another ? Who, be- 


Friends in Council 83 

sides David Ancram's executors, has any in- 
terest in finding his heirs ? ” 

Nobody that I am aware of. As I re- 
marked when we were talking of the matter 
before, the niece, who inherits in default of 
them, has considerable interest in their not 
being found. She would never send in search 
of them, depend upon it.'’ 

Miss Chesney laughed. “ And have you 
never heard or read of people who sent in 
search of others whom they did not wish to be 
found — in order to put them out of the way ? ” 
“ Good heavens! ” said Leslie, hastily, “ I 
must have given you a very bad idea of this 
poor woman if you think her capable of plan- 
ning murder ” 

“ Oh, the stupidity of men! — that is, some 
men,” cried Miss Chesney, impatiently. ” Did 
I say anything of murder ? Is there no other 
mode of putting people out of the way ? 
Can’t you bribe them ? ” 

” Easily enough in most cases. But what 
bribe could outweigh a fortune of millions ? ” 

” Mr. Leslie, I really think that your uncle 
displayed very little knowledge of your char- 


84 The Chase of an Heiress 


acter — of the guileless inability to entertain 
suspicion which apparently distinguishes it — 
when he sent you on this errand. Naturally 
no bribe could outweigh a fortune of millions, 
if the people to be bribed were to know any- 
thing about the millions. But let us suppose a 
case. A person inherits a comparatively small 
portion of a large fortune, and will inherit the 
great remainder if certain missing heirs cannot 
be found. It is therefore to her interest, as 
you have observed, that those heirs should not 
be found. What does she do, therefore, grant- 
ing that she is an unscrupulous person ? — and 
unscrupulous persons unfortunately abound in 
this world. Why, she sends a secret messen- 
ger to the place where the heirs were heard of 
last, with directions to find out if they are alive 
or dead, and if alive to contrive means to re- 
move them to some remote spot where the 
inquiry for them would never come to their 
knowledge. That, ’ ’ said Miss Chesney, calmly, 
“ is what I should do if I were dishonest and in 
the position of this woman of whom we speak.” 

” It is a plausible theory,” Leslie agreed; 
” but really I have no reason to believe the 


Friends in Council 


85 


woman dishonest in any degree, much less so 
desperately unscrupulous as such a plot would 
demand that she should be.” 

Have you any reason to believe her 
honest ? ” 

” Well, no. But the maxim of the law is 
that a person must be supposed innocent until 
proved guilty, you know.” 

” The law,” responded Miss Chesney, scorn- 
fully, ” does not act very consistently, then, in 
arresting people and subjecting them to im- 
prisonment and disgrace before they are tried 
and found guilty at all. But if you believe the 
woman innocent of any plot, how do you ac- 
count for the presence here of this man ? ” 

” I don’t pretend to account for it. But I 
have n’t the least reason to connect her with 
his presence, you know.” 

” You had n’t the least reason to connect his 
presence in the island with the Ancram heirs 
when we talked of the matter before, you re- 
member. But there is nothing to be gained 
by discussing something which we don’t know 
and can’t prove. The point is, what are you 
going to do ? ” 


86 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ As I have mentioned, Mr. Herresdorf is 
strongly of opinion that I should go in person 
to Rosario to communicate my important in- 
telligence. And I suppose he is right." 

" Of course he is right. Since you let the 
girl slip through your fingers here, you are 
bound to follow her and defeat the object of 
that man who has gone with her, whatever it 
may be. I cannot imagine why you are not on 
fire to go, when you consider that he is no 
doubt at this moment playing the part which 
fate clearly intended for you." 

" And that part is ? " 

" To win the heiress and her millions, be- 
yond doubt." 

She spoke with the most positive decision, 
but was angrily conscious the next moment of 
flushing under a look which, without need of 
words, recalled many things to her recollection 
that she had no desire to recall, and under the 
influence of which her readiness of speech for 
once failed her. To her great vexation, she 
was unable to think of anything to say until 
Leslie spoke — very deliberately : 

It is kind of you to place me in the same 


Friends in Council 


87 


category with Mr. Stanford. But what have I 
ever done to lead you to credit me with so 
much — shall we say, worldly prudence ? That 
is the euphemism generally used for mercenary 
scheming, I believe.” 

“ Mercenary scheming! I should call it very 
romantic to find a beautiful girl, endowed with 
millions, and marry her.” 

” Then your sympathies ought to be strongly 
enlisted in behalf of Mr. Stanford, whom we 
suspect to be acting (according to that view) in 
the most romantic manner possible.” 

” And I don’t promise that they will not 
be,” she cried, with still more heightened 
colour, ” if you continue to put so little spirit 
into your part. Mr. Stanford may be an ad- 
venturer, a fortune-hunter, but he is at least a 
man who knows how to seize opportunities 
with energy, and to take with a strong hand 
what he wants.” 

” Oh! ” said Leslie, still looking at her with 
provoking intentness; ” that, then, is your 
idea of what a man should be ? I know some 
women are fascinated by the knock-down-and- 
bear-off mode of wooing; but I hardly im- 


88 The Chase of an Heiress 


agined that you would be one of them. I am 
always glad of a new light on character, how- 
ever. Thanks for this on yours. " 

“ And thanks for so kindly comprehending 
me,’' she replied, her eyes flashing with anger. 
“ As if to commend energy and the resolution 
and daring which generally accomplish their 
end was the same thing as to approve what 
you call ‘ the knock-down-and-bear-off mode 
of wooing ’ ! I am sorry you are so obtuse, 
Mr. Leslie — if indeed you really are.” 

” I don’t think I am remarkably obtuse,” 
said Leslie, with a dispassionate air. ” I 
believe I grasp your meaning. You are 
commending energy, daring, and resolution 
(whether unscrupulous or not) as qualities 
specially adapted to win the feminine heart.” 

” Naturally [curtly] a woman is more likely 
to believe in a devotion which expresses itself 
in that manner.” 

” See, now, how one can be mistaken. I 
should have fancied that some women — not 
all, by any means — would appreciate more 
highly the qualities of modesty, deference, 
and a chivalrous desire not to exercise com- 


Friends in Council 


89 


pelling force of any kind upon what should be 
a gift free as heaven’s light, or which else is of 
no value at all.” 

Again Katherine Chesney flushed, and her 
vexation was not lessened by feeling that she 
had been betrayed into discussing a subject 
which was the last she desired to touch upon 
with this man, and that in the discussion she 
had through impatience expressed an opinion 
which was by no means hers, but which she 
now disdained to modify or retract. It was a 
distinct relief that her father at this moment 
created a diversion by entering the room. 

” Papa,” she cried, quickly, ‘‘ what do you 
think ? Mr. Leslie has lost his heiress and 
must go in chase of her.” 

” Chasing an heiress,” said Mr. Chesney, 
smiling as he shook hands with Leslie, ” is 
not at all an uncommon amusement — or should 
one say occupation ? — but this chase will have 
some elements of novelty. How have you 
managed to lose her ? I thought she was yet 
to be found.” 

“ In a certain sense she was lost before she 
was found. And in fact she is not yet found 


go The Chase of an Heiress 


— by me,” replied Leslie, somewhat ruefully. 
And then he explained. 

Mr. Chesney listened with much interest, — 
an interest decidedly quickened when he 
learned that his late fellow-passenger was the 
mysterious and perhaps sinister element in the 
loss, — and fully agreed with Mr. Herresdorf 
that it was Leslie’s manifest duty to follow the 
girl, in order to communicate the news of her 
great fortune without delay, and frustrate the 
designs of a man who, there was every reason 
to fear, was a scheming adventurer. 

This was fully discussed at the dinner to 
which they then sat down, and presently Mr. 
Chesney asked by what means he intended to 
go to the estate called Rosario. 

” There is but one means, apparently, of 
going,” Leslie replied, ” and that is by the 
river. I spoke of hiring a boat to take me up. 
But Mr. Herresdorf would not allow me to do 
so. He says that the boats of the estate are 
now coming down constantly with sugar, — 
towed by a steam-tug which takes them up and 
down, — and that the best and quickest way for 
me to go is with them. He is certain that one 


Friends in Council 


91 


or two will be down to-morrow, and that I can 
return with them the next day. I have been 
considering whether you and Miss Chesney 
might not perhaps like to make the trip. I 
know that you are anxious to see something of 
the interior of the country.” 

” Why, yes,” said Mr. Chesney, looking a 
little surprised, ” we are certainly anxious to 
see something of the interior of the country, 
and going by water would obviate the objec- 
tion of the bad roads. But — ah — you see, 
Leslie, you are not exactly in a position to in- 
vite us to accompany you. You are going by 
private conveyance to a private house.” 

” I have ventured to speak of the matter to 
Mr. Herresdorf, who, as the agent directly 
representing the owner, may be considered the 
master of the house,” replied Leslie, ” and he 
says that there is not the least objection to 
your going. In fact, he will be delighted if 
you will do so, and, instead of merely giving 
us a letter to the manager of the estate, he 
will send his son to introduce us and see that 
we are made comfortable. I really think,” 
glancing now at Miss Chesney, ” that you 


92 The Chase of an Heiress 


might enjoy it, since you are fond of new 
scenes and experiences." 

" I am sure of it," said the young lady, with 
the most promptly cordial assent. — " Papa, it 
is a chance we could not have hoped for. We 
are deeply indebted to Mr. Leslie for thinking 
of it, and I am in favour of accepting his offer 
at once." 

" If this Mr. Herresdorf represents the 
owner, his permission should be all that is nec- 
essary," said Mr. Chesney, hesitating a little, 
but evidently much tempted. 

" That is his position," said Leslie. " The 
manager is directly responsible to him, and 
very likely appointed by him. I can see that 
he has control of everything, and I am sure his 
invitation is sufficient. The only question is, 
would you like to go ? " 

" The answer to that is very easily given," 
said Mr. Chesney. " We should certainly 
like very much to go, if proper arrangements 
can be made." 

" Will a formal invitation from Mr. Herres- 
dorf come under the head of ‘ proper arrange- 
ments ’ ? " asked Leslie. " I took the liberty 


Friends in Council 


93 


of settling with him that it is to be offered by 
his son, who will meet me here to-night. I 
hope*' — he spoke to Miss Chesney — “that 
you will not think I presumed in making such 
an appointment without first obtaining your 
permission ? ” 

“ On the contrary,” she said, “ I think you 
have been planning for us in the kindest pos- 
sible manner, and we have reason to be very 
grateful to you for thinking of the matter. It 
is just what I have been wishing for — an op- 
portunity to go into the interior of the country. 
And to go now, with the additional interest of 
the romantic circumstances surrounding your 
quest, I think will be delightful.” 

“ I perceive,” said Mr. Chesney, “ that the 
decision is taken out of my hands.” 

“ And don’t you like decisions, and all the 
other troubles of life, to be taken out of your 
hands?” laughed his daughter, as they rose 
from table. “ Confess that you would not 
miss this for anything.” 

“ I will first hear what young Mr. Herresdorf 
has to say,” was the guarded reply. 



CHAPTER VII 

LIGHT ON THE DRAMA 

T he last words had hardly been spoken 
when Antonio appeared in the doorway 
opening upon the gallery-encircled court and 
announced that a sefior was below inquiring 
for Sefior Leslie. 

“ That,” said Leslie, “is of course the 
young man of whom we have just been speak- 
ing. Have I your permission to bring him 
up ? ” 

“ Antonio will do so,” replied Miss Ches- 
ney; and, addressing Antonio, she added a’ 
few words in Spanish, on which the youth, 
with a prompt “ Si, senorita,'' disappeared, 
returning in a few minutes followed by the 
person for whom he had been sent, and whom 
he ushered into the apartment. 


94 


95 


Light on the Drama 

A gentleman, there was no doubt of that. 
Katherine Chesney, whose intuitions on this 
point were unfailing and of lightning-like 
quickness, decided as much as soon as her 
glance fell on the graceful young figure which 
advanced into the room. “ What a charming 
boy!" was her thought — a thought which 
would certainly not have taken form in her 
mind had not her fastidious taste been as much 
pleased by his air and manner as her eye by 
his handsome face. For there was in his ap- 
pearance no sign of the Teutonic father. From 
the Spanish blood of his mother had come to 
him the slender grace of his form, with its deli- 
cate extremities and lines so finely moulded 
that awkwardness of movement became impos- 
sible, and the picturesque beauty of his South- 
ern face, olive-skinned, delicate-featured, dark- 
eyed. It was a face singularly attractive in 
the open frankness of its expression, with a 
smile which gained a flashing quality from the 
kindling light it awakened in the eyes, and the 
regular whiteness of the teeth it displayed. 

This smile appeared as he caught sight of 
Leslie, who came forward to meet him and at 


96 The Chase of an Heiress 


once presented him to Mr. and Miss Chesney. 
In a few minutes they were discussing the ex- 
pedition which Leslie was anxious for his 
friends to join. 

“ And why not ? ” asked young Herresdorf, 
who spoke English with only such slight foreign 
accent as added to its charm, inasmuch as it 
was derived from the noblest and most musical 
of all languages, the Spanish. “ If you would 
like to see something of the interior of the 
island, why not accompany us ? 

“ We should like very much to do so,” said 
Miss Chesney, frankly; ” but we feel a hesita- 
tion in going uninvited to a private house ” 

” My father, who represents the owner, has 
sent me to invite you,” said the young man. 
” And even if it were otherwise, no one in 
Santo Domingo would think it strange that 
you should go. We have not very much to 
offer, perhaps, but hospitality is the law of our 
island. When you have left the towns you 
find no — how do you call them ? — houses of 
public entertainment at all. You must either 
repose yourself under the trees or in a private 
house. It is expected.” 


97 


Light on the Drama 

“ That indicates a very fine spirit of hospi- 
tality in the people/’ said Miss Chesney, 
smiling. “And we are exceedingly obliged to 
your father for his kind invitation. But we 
should be a large party, and to go in this man- 
ner, altogether unexpected, would probably be 
to give a great deal of trouble and inconven- 
ience to the people of the house where we are 
bound. You see, I have been so long a house- 
keeper myself that I know what it is to have 
unlooked-for guests on one’s hands.’’ 

“ Ah,’’ said the young man, with one of his 
flashing smiles, “ the cases are different. You 
would expect to do much for your guests of 
which Dofia Lucia — that is the wife of the 
manager of the estate — would never think. 
She will simply give you what she has, and of 
what she has not she will not trouble herself. 
If there are not beds enough for us all, Mr. 
Leslie and I will take some hammocks, hang 
them up, and sleep in them very well indeed. 
So pray do not hesitate, but come.’’ 

“ In that case,’’ said Katherine, looking at 
her father, “ I really think we may permit 
ourselves the pleasure of going — eh, papa ? ’’ 


98 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ I suppose we may,” answered Mr. Ches- 
ney, ” since you are so anxious, and Mr. — ah 
— Herresdorf is so kind. When do you expect 
to go ? ” asked he, addressing the latter. 

” We hope to go day after to-morrow,” was 
the reply. ” The Rosario boats will be down 
to-morrow with sugar for the Clyde ship which 
is loading here at present ; and we will return 
in them the day after.” 

Miss Chesney glanced at Leslie. ” That 
means,” she said, ” that the man who has 
gone in advance of you will have three days in 
which to pursue his plans, whatever they may 
be, before you can reach him.” 

” Very true,” Leslie answered, ” but there 
is no remedy that I perceive. And after all, 
you know, I have really no concern with the 
movements of Mr. Stanford. He may have 
no such plans as we credit him with ; or, if he 
has, it is no affair of mine to frustrate them. 
My business here is simply to find the heir of 
David Ancram and communicate to her the 
news of her good fortune.” 

Miss Chesney regarded him with undisguised 
scorn. “You have no energy, no spirit of ad- 


99 


Light on the Drama 

venture, no — no romantic ambition," she said. 
"You might as well be a mere lawyer’s clerk." 

" Which is really what I am for the time 
being," he replied, calmly. 

" And the beautiful heiress ? " 

He looked at her steadily. " The beautiful 
heiress, after I have conveyed the news of her 
inheritance to her, is a person with whom I am 
not at all concerned." 

"You are hopeless! you are incorrigible! " 
She turned her back upon him, to give further 
point to her words, and addressed the young 
Dominican, who had meanwhile been talking 
with her father. 

" Mr. Herresdorf." 

" Sefiorita ? " he responded, turning toward 
her. 

" I wish you would tell me something about 
this young girl who has suddenly become the 
possessor of such a large fortune. What is her 
name ? " 

" Felisa, sefiorita." 

" Felisa! How pretty, and how singularly 
appropriate to her present circumstances ! Of 
course one mdght moralise about the dangers 


loo The Chase of an Heiress 


and temptations of wealth; but I prefer to 
think of the intoxicating delight of finding 
one’s self suddenly possessed of five millions 
while still young, beautiful — she is beautiful, 
is she not ? ” 

It was a simple question, but the young 
man’s face flushed in answering it. 

“ She is the most beautiful woman I have 
ever seen, sefiorita,” he replied. 

“ I fancied she must be beautiful,” said Miss 
Chesney, with the air of one whose wisdom is 
justified. ” And is she very young ? ” 

” Only seventeen.” 

” Happy girl! What vistas of pleasure are 
opening before her! — No, papa, don’t shake 
your head. I can’t possibly moralise over her. 
I can only think of being seventeen, and 
beautiful, and having five millions. Fancy 
what her life would have been on this island 
had she remained poor and obscure, and what 
it will be now ! ” 

” She would probably have been a happier 
and a better woman had she never inherited 
such a fortune,” said Mr. Chesney, dogmati- 
cally. 


lOI 


Light on the Drama 

How can you know that ? And why 
should wealth necessarily be a demoraliser ? I 
don’t myself believe that it is. It must be a 
very poor character that is injured by the pos- 
session of means for happiness and culture and 
doing good. Think of the horrible helpless- 
ness and narrowness of poverty — how it cripples 
the faculties, embitters the nature, and rends 
the heart ! Could any effects of wealth be 
worse than these ? And if one has ambition, 
as everyone should have,” — here she glanced 
again at Leslie, — ” wealth can make its gratifi- 
cation possible. And so I feel that the beauti- 
ful and happily named Felisa is to be most 
heartily congratulated, and I refuse to think of 
her as an object of compassion at all.” 

” She will certainly be an object of compas- 
sion if she becomes the prey of a fortune- 
hunter, and it is more than probable that she 
will,” said Mr. Chesney. 

” I fail to see why even that is necessary,” 
his daughter began, when Leslie interposed. 

” Mr. Chesney is quite right,” he said. ” I 
may be old-fashioned, altogether out of date, 
but I have so great a contempt for the man 


102 The Chase of an Heiress 


who plays the part of fortune-hunter — that is, 
who seeks and marries a woman for her money 
— that I hardly think a worse fate could be- 
fall her than to become the prey of such a 
schemer.” 

“You are out of date,” said Miss Chesney. 
“ You belong in a pastoral. We have out- 
grown those ideas ; for how would rich women 
marry at all if it was necessary for them to be 
convinced, as a preliminary, of the disinterest- 
edness of their suitors ? ” 

“ Character is the only test,” said Leslie, 
rising. “ There are men whom it is impossible 
to suspect of such motives; and a woman must 
be wilfully self-deceived who does not know 
when she is really loved, and when merely 
sought, no matter with what degree of simu- 
lated ardour.” 

“We are great fools sometimes, you know,” 
said Miss Chesney, candidly. 

“ Not such fools as to be unable to tell that, 
if you choose to do so,” he answered. Then, 
taking her hand, he said good-night. “ Mr. 
Herresdorf and I will talk over the details of 
our expedition,” he added, “ and I will let 


103 


Light on the Drama 

you know to-morrow if any change in the pro- 
gramme is decided upon.” 

When they had passed out of the great dark 
portal of the house, Leslie offered his com- 
panion a cigar. ” Let us sit down in the 
Plaza, if you have nothing better to do,” he 
said. ” The night is too beautiful to put a 
roof over one’s head any sooner than must be. ’ ’ 

The young Dominican assenting, they 
walked over to the Plaza and sat down on one 
of the stone benches. There was no music 
this evening, and therefore there were no 
promenaders nor any loiterers besides them- 
selves. The statue of Columbus had all the 
silent square and the ineffable beauty of the 
tropic night to itself. The moon riding high 
in the violet heaven was lightly obscured now 
and then by white scudding clouds, which 
threw their delicate shadows over the heroic 
figure of the great discoverer and the fortress- 
like mass of the ancient cathedral. There was 
a moment’s silence after the two men sat down. 
Leslie was gazing at his surroundings with a 
sense of deep satisfaction in their picturesque 
antiquity, when his companion spoke. 


104 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ It is quite true,” he observed, abruptly, 
” what the young lady — how do you call 
her ? ” 

” Miss Chesney.” 

” Yes, Miss Chesney, said. It is a wonder- 
ful good fortune which has come to Felisa, 
who has now all the world before her, to do 
what she will, to go where she will, and to have 
all she wants. And Felisa wants much — very 
much.” 

“You know her well, then ? ” asked Leslie, 
interested. 

“ So well, seflor, that I do not think anyone 
could know her better. I have known her 
ever since she came here, a mere child. And 
I have been thinking it is also true what you 
were saying about the fortune-hunter, how no 
one is more contemptible than the man who 
seeks a woman for her wealth, and no one is 
more to be pitied than the woman who be- 
comes his prey. But, sefior, tell me,” — and 
the handsome young face gazed at him very 
earnestly — ” do you think that a man who had 
always loved a woman, who loved her long 
before she became rich, would be a fortune- 


Light on the Drama 105 

hunter if he sought her after she had inherited 
a fortune ? ” 

No, certainly not,’’ replied Leslie, with 
decision. “ He only is a fortune-hunter who 
seeks a woman for her fortune and not for her- 
self. But in your case — I mean the case you 
have put — there could be no question of such 
a thing, since he loved her before she had be- 
come rich. To avoid all danger of doubt on 
her part, it is to be hoped that he told her so.” 

” Many times, sefior. For I do not wish to 
make any mystery with you, and, as no doubt 
you guess, I am speaking of myself. I have 
always loved Felisa, and she has always known 
it. But my father was desperately opposed to 
our marriage and positively refused his consent 
— for which he is very sorry now.” 

“No doubt,” said Leslie, dryly. 

“ And, since I am dependent on him, there 
seemed no alternative for us but to wait. Only 
last night — does it not seem strange ?— only 
last night I implored him to give even a partial 
consent, so that I might have at least the right 
of seeing Felisa openly, for, by his request, her 
stepmother had forbidden her to see me; but 


io6 The Chase of an Heiress 


he would not yield. He forbade me ever to 
speak to her again. In that I had no intention 
of obeying him, for I was resolved to marry 
Felisa whenever I was able, but there seemed 
no hope for us at the present time. I felt 
bound to tell her so, when we met by agree- 
ment to say farewell before she left this morn- 
ing. And then she was angry — very angry. 

“ With your father ? " 

“ Yes, and also with me. Her position is 
not a happy one in her stepmother’s family, 
for, although Doha Lucia is kind to her, she is 
sheltered, clothed, and fed by the charity of 
those to whom she does not belong, and her 
pride feels it keenly. She had looked to me 
to release her from this position, and when I 
told her that it was impossible for me to do so 
until I could render myself independent of my 
father — which I promised, however, to spare 
no effort to do — she was indignant and said 
some very bitter things.” 

” Very unreasonable ones, too, I am sure,” 
said Leslie. ” My dear Mr. Herresdorf ” 

” Ah, if you please, call me Ramon,” inter- 
posed the young man. I cannot feel that 


Light on the Drama 107 

you are talking to me when you address me as 
Mr. Herresdorf. No one ever calls me so.’' 

“ Ramon, then, with pleasure. Do you 
know that you interest me extremely, and I 
am delighted to have come as the deus ex 
machmd to clear the way of your romance ? I 
only wish I had arrived yesterday.” 

” So do I, with all my heart,” said Ramon, 
with a sigh. “For Felisa went away angry — 
so angry that she would not listen to me, nor 
even look at me.” 

“ Why did n’t you force her to do so ? 
Sometimes it is necessary to assert yourself 
with a woman before she will respect you.” 

“ The place forbade it, senor. We met at 
the cathedral door yonder — for she made an 
excuse of desiring to hear mass before leaving 
the city — and when I tried to make her listen 
to me she broke away from me and went into 
the church. I could not follow her there. It 
would have been to make a scandal.” 

“ By Jove!” ejaculated Leslie. He took 
his cigar from his lips and stared at his com- 
panion. “ So it was you ! ” he said. 

“ It was I, yes,” the other answered, un- 


io8 The Chase of an Heiress 


comprehending. “ Who else could it have 
been ? ” 

“ And the girl who was in such a passion — 
Oh, I see it all now! ” Leslie cried. “ Why 
could n’t I see it at the time ? Why on earth 
did n’t some instinct tell me that the person I 
had come to Santo Domingo to seek was within 
three feet of me ? But catch an instinct be- 
having in a sensible, serviceable manner like 
that! Oh, confound it all! ” 

“ I — don’t understand,” said his companion, 
staring in turn. ” Were you in the church ? — 
did you see Felisa ? ” 

I saw her, and I also saw — hold out your 
hand for a moment. Thanks, yes — that is the 
same hand which tried to detain her. Well, 
all that I can say is that your inamorata has a 
fearful temper.” 

” She has a temper,” confessed the lover, 
” and perhaps what you would call a violent 
one ’ ' 

” I do call it so, most emphatically. I don’t 
think I ever saw anyone in such a rage as she 
was this morning.” 

” She was very angry,” Ramon admitted. 


Light on the Drama 109 

“ That is what I told you. And when Felisa 
is angry she is — how do you say ? — desperate. 
She will stop at nothing. It is that which 
makes me uneasy.” 

” But what do you fear ? What can she do ? 
You are not afraid of her drowning herself ? ” 
No, I am not at all afraid of her drowning 
herself ; but I am afraid she will have nothing 
more to do with me. Her last words were : ‘ I 
will never speak to you again. I will help my- 
self, or I will find someone else to help me, 
since you do not love me sufficiently to do 
so.’ ” 

Most abominably unreasonable and self- 
ish,” said Leslie, ” but probably of no more 
weight than this.” And he blew out a light 
cloud of cigar-smoke. 

” Perhaps not, if this money had not come,” 
said the young man, as he watched the light 
curling rings dissipate in the air. ” But now, 
how can I go to her, now that she is rich, with 
the memory of those words between us ? ” 

” My dear boy,” said Leslie, kindly, ” the 
whole matter in my opinion resolves itself into 
the question, does this young lady love you, 


no The Chase of an Heiress 


or did she only desire to make a convenience 
of you, to escape from the disagreeable condi- 
tions of her life ? If the first, her fortune will 
only smooth the path of her love; if the 
second, you should congratulate yourself upon 
escaping her, if she had twice five millions.” 

” I believe that she loves me,” said the 
other, simply. ” I cannot doubt it. But I 
fear that she doubts my love, that she thinks 
I was not ready enough to brave my father on 
her account. And then her pride was all in 
arms — I have told you she is very proud — at 
being rejected and despised. Now it will be 
her turn; now she can reject and despise both 
my father and myself ; and, sefior, I fear, I 
greatly fear that she will do it.” 

” Then I repeat that you will be well rid of 
her,” said Leslie, who was dimly conscious 
that he was not playing the part of confidant 
with very delicate sympathy. ” A woman 
who is possessed of a perfect devil of a temper 
and pride to match would be a terrible com- 
panion for life, no matter if she were beautiful 
as Venus and rich as Croesus.” 

” It is perhaps too much to say that she is 


Light on the Drama 1 1 1 

‘ possessed of a devil of temper and pride/ 
seflor/' 

Not a bit,” said Leslie, positively. ” I 
shall never forget her face this morning, nor 
the look she gave me — never. You are a brave 
man to think of undertaking such a termagant, 
no matter what her charm. But if she loves 
you, the five millions will not change her; and 
if they do change her, she has never loved you. 
That is how the matter stands.” 

“Yes,” agreed the other, dejectedly, “ that 
is how it stands.” 




CHAPTER VIII 

AT THE TOWER OF COLUMBUS 

“ OINCE we cannot start on our expedition 
^ until to-morrow, can’t we go some- 
where to pass the time to-day ? ” asked Leslie, 
when he met Miss Chesney the next morning. 
“ There must be some more ruins and antiqui- 
ties to see.” 

” What an intelligent antiquarian interest 
you manifest!” the young lady laughed in 
reply. ” Yes, unfortunately, ruins abound in 
Santo Domingo, and one has only to choose 
among them. Would you like to visit those 
of the great church and convent of San Fran- 
cisco on the hill near the Casa de Colon ? — or do 
you care to see the remains of the first univers- 
ity established in the New World ? — or will 
you make an expedition with papa and myself 


II2 


At the Tower of Columbus 113 


to the original site of the city on the other side 
of the river ? I want to get a good photo- 
graph of the remains of the tower in which 
Columbus was confined, for you know it is a 
mistake to suppose that he was confined in the 
castle here, which was not built at that time.” 

I did n't know it,” Leslie confessed, as 
humbly as befitted his ignorance. ” I am sure 
the castle here looks old enough for anything ; 
and everybody points it out as the place where 
Columbus was imprisoned.” 

” ' Everybody ’ simply repeats, parrot-like, 
what was originally said by ignorant people. 
The castle is nearly four hundred years old — it 
was built about the year 1509, after the settle- 
ment was removed to this side of the river — but 
it is not old enough to have been the place of 
Columbus’s imprisonment. That occurred in 
1500, if you remember ” — Leslie endeavoured, 
not very successfully, to look as if he remem- 
bered — '' while the city was yet on the east 
bank of the river. He was confined by Boba- 
dilla in a small tower over there, which from 
that event was called the Torrecilla de Colon.** 

” It must be immensely interesting,” said 


1 14 The Chase of an Heiress 


Leslie, “ and I shall be delighted if you will 
allow me to accompany you. When do you 
start ? ’ ’ 

“ As soon as papa, who went out a few 
minutes ago, returns. We shall take a car- 
riage, for it is quite a distance to the site of 
the torrecillay and also lunch, so we need be in 
no haste to return. Since your heiress is un- 
happily out of reach, I suppose you do not 
object to a day of idling.” 

“ Object ! ” There was not much indication 
of objection on his face. ” I am very much 
obliged to the heiress for being out of reach. 
Idling — with you — on the ancient site of Santo 
Domingo is just now my idea of everything 
most desirable.” 

Miss Chesney shook her head. ” That is 
not the spirit you ought to have,” she said. 
” But here comes papa, so I will go and pre- 
pare the lunch.” 

An hour later the little party of three had 
left the grey walls of the city behind them, 
had crossed the river by means of the modern 
bridge which spans it, and were driving toward 
the ancient site where Bartholomew Columbus 


At the Tower of Columbus 115 


founded the second settlement in the New 
World — Isabella, on the other side of the 
island, having been the first — where his great 
brother ruled as Viceroy of the Indies, where 
the usurper Bobadilla came with power to de- 
pose him, and where he, who had given a new 
world to Castile and Leon, was ignominiously 
imprisoned, before being sent in chains to 
Spain. 

All of this, with many particulars, Mr. Ches- 
ney poured into the ear of his companion as 
they drove along, and if that ear was somewhat 
unheedful the fact was hardly surprising. The 
divine loveliness of the perfect day and the 
picturesque beauty of the surrounding scenes, 
together with the magic of a pair of radiant 
grey eyes, a flashing smile, and a musical voice, 
were distractions which hardly allowed Leslie 
to give the attention that was justly due to 
the old tragedy of human ingratitude and in- 
justice. 

On the extreme point of the eastern bank of 
the river, where reaching the ocean it unites its 
waters with the wide, sparkling expanse of a 
sea all lapis lazuli and silver, are to be seen 


ii6 The Chase of an Heiress 


the remains of the tower where the supreme 
height of that tragedy was reached. A few 
scattered stones are all that now mark the spot 
on which history and local tradition are alike 
agreed as the place of Columbus’s imprison- 
ment. Very soon, with the neglect which 
Santo Domingo accords to all her relics of the 
past, even these will disappear, and there will 
be nothing to tell that here the heroic heart of 
the great Admiral tasted more than the bitter- 
ness of death, that here his sad eyes gazed 
from a prison cell out over the entrancing 
brightness of the tropic sea of which he was the 
discoverer, and that here he received, as the 
reward of all his services, those chains which 
he ever afterward kept beside him, as a per- 
petual reminder of the vanity of human great- 
ness and the ingratitude of human hearts. 

I wish it were a better ruin,” Miss Chesney 
sighed after she had taken her photographs. 
” It does not make a very effective picture, 
but then it is the place, and that is the import- 
ant point. And perhaps, after all, it is not to 
be regretted that the memorial of such an 
event should be obliterated.” 


At the Tower of Columbus 117 


It is very much to be regretted,” said Mr. 
Chesney. “ There is no excuse for such bar- 
barous neglect of the antiquities of the island 
— none.” 

” Only the excuse of its history,” said his 
daughter. ” When one thinks how it has been 
swept by fire and sword, ravaged by buccaneers, 
pillaged by pirates, made a battle-ground of 
Spanish, French, and English, one wonders 
that any antiquities survive, that a single stone 
is anywhere left standing upon another.” 

” It is of course necessary to take that into 
consideration,” Mr. Chesney admitted. “ The 
chapel, on the steps of which Bobadilla read 
the proclamation deposing Columbus, is near 
here, and in a tolerable state of preservation,” 
he added, addressing Leslie. “You will like 
to see that.” 

“ Oh, certainly,” responded the young man, 
with every appearance of interest. He turned 
to Katherine. “You are going to see it ? ” 

“ I have already seen it,” she answered, 
“ but — yes — I am going there to take some 
photographs. There is no need for haste, 
however,” she added, as she sat down on one 


ii8 The Chase of an Heiress 


of the rocks which formed the foundation of 
the tower, and looked beyond the ring of 
flashing surf to the marvellous sea stretching 
to the limitless horizon. “ This place is full 
of sadness, yet it fascinates me. I find it hard 
to tear myself away from it. The voice of the 
waves seems to have here a more minor tone 
than elsewhere, as if it were repeating the story 
of the ingratitude of the world and the transit- 
oriness of its honours." 

“ It is a story as old as the world," observed 
Mr. Chesney, dryly. " When you have finished 
meditating upon it, you will find me at the 
chapel. There are some details I want to ex- 
amine and make a few notes of." 

He walked away, and Leslie, after hesitating 
a little, sat down beside Miss Chesney. At 
the present moment he, too, was conscious of 
a fascination in this spot, which was not per- 
haps altogether due to the memory of Colum- 
bus, although his th oughts were busy with that 
memory as he, also, gazed out silently over the 
boundless, glittering expanse of sapphire sea. 

" It is certainly a case of poetical justice if 
the body of Columbus is here — honoured in 


At the Tower of Columbus 119 


the place whence he was banished in disgrace/’ 
he presently observed, reflectively. 

“ There is no possible ground for doubting 
that the body of Columbus is here,” Miss Ches- 
ney replied, with emphasis. ” And we must 
not forget that the government of Spain disa- 
vowed Bobadilla’s acts. It is also pleasant to re- 
member that speedy retribution overtook him. ’ ’ 

” Nevertheless, the obvious and only pos- 
sible amende to Columbus, of reinstating him 
in the viceroyship of the Indies, was not 
made,” Leslie returned. ” In short, the whole 
thing was what our English friends would call 
‘ a beastly shame.’ ” 

” I am sorry to perceive a great tendency to 
levity in your remarks,” said the young lady, 
reprovingly. 

” It all happened so long ago!” he mur- 
mured, apologetically. ” We may imagine 
that even to Columbus it seems a small affair 
now, or the only important thing in it the 
effect it had upon himself. That, we may be- 
lieve, was salutary. At least, what we are told 
of his always keeping his chains with him seems 
to prove as much.” 


120 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ Salutary, perhaps — but very sad.” 

” Ah, if I wished to be pessimistic, I should 
say, what is not sad in human history ? But 
I don’t want to be pessimistic. Here, in the 
glad light of this beautiful day, I would prefer 
to forget the wretched story, with all its dis- 
heartening lessons, and think only of how 
delightful life can be — under some circum- 
stances.” 

” Mr. Leslie, I am afraid that you are 
very ’ ’ 

” Shallow ? Don’t hesitate to say it. If 
depth is synonymous with melancholy, I think 
I prefer to be shallow.” 

” If you were in earnest that would be a very 
unworthy choice, but I did not intend to say 
that you were shallow. I had quite another 
word on my lips.” 

May I not. hear it, especially if it was a 
little more flattering ? ” 

Oh [rather hastily], it was not of any im- 
portance. Since you are not interested in 
Columbus, suppose we talk of your heiress.” 

” My heiress, as you are kind enough to call 
her, interests me even less than Columbus. 


At the Tower of Columbus 121 


But I must tell you that I have had a new and 
rather strong light upon her character. Do 
you remember the drama which amused us in 
the cathedral yesterday — the girl and the 
hand, you know ? " 

“ Of course I remember. How could I for- 
get anything so interesting ? You don’t mean 
that you have any further light upon it ? ” 

“ I have the fullest possible light upon it. 
The girl was the heiress of whom I am in 

search, the happily named Felisa " 

“ Mr. Leslie ! ” 

And the hand was that of our young 
friend, Ramon Herresdorf.” 

Miss Chesney seemed for a moment wavering 
between amazement and incredulity. Then 
she said, “ Are you sure of this ? ” 

“ Perfectly sure. The party of the second 
part opened his heart to me last night, and, 
quite unsolicited, told me all about it.” 

” And what was the meaning of the 
scene ? ” 

” Just what we imagined. A clandestine 
meeting of lovers between whom intercourse 
had been forbidden, a stern and mercenary 


122 The Chase of an Heiress 


father in the background absolutely refusing 
consent to their marriage, a headstrong, un- 
reasonable girl desiring her lover to accomplish 
impossibilities and leaving him in a furious 
passion, with the assurance that she would 
have nothing more to do with him, because he 
represented to her that living on air was, even 
in Santo Domingo, a slight impossibility. 
Voilh tout ! ’ ' 

“ And that was Felisa! How strange that 
you should have met her and been so close to 
her — the very person of whom you were in 
search ! ’ ’ 

“It is certainly most unfortunate that she 
was not ticketed in some way. I begin to 
think that a law requiring every person to wear 
a badge with his or her name upon it would be 
a good thing. I ’ll present the idea to some 
aspiring legislator when I go home.” 

“ What a rage she was in! ” pursued Kather- 
ine, paying no heed to this frivolous remark. 
“ I never saw anyone more angry, nor a face 
more indicative of undisciplined passion. I am 
afraid she is not very happily named, after all. 
Not even five millions can insure happiness to 


At the Tower of Columbus 123 

one possessing such a temper. But she is 
wonderfully beautiful.’' 

“ So is a tigress, but one would not care for 
her as a companion. I suggested as much to 
young Herresdorf.” 

“ And he ” 

“ Is in love. That says everything, does n’t 
it ? And, being in love, he is much disturbed 
over the five millions complication.” 

” Then he is a remarkably unworldly young 
man — almost too unworldly to be believed in.” 

” What a deplorable cynic you are! But 
you do him injustice. He does not profess 
such extreme unworldliness. On the contrary, 
I suppose he would be as pleased as is natural 
to humanity over the prospect of so much 
money, if in coming just at this time it did 
not render his position a little awkward.” 

” I cannot imagine why, since he was in love 
with the girl, and she knew it, before the 
money was dreamed of by either.” 

” Ah, but remember the scene of yesterday. 
I am afraid you do not understand its full 
significance. That passion which we beheld, 
that volcanic rage, was provoked by his refusal 


124 The Chase of an Heiress 


to disregard all considerations of prudence and 
by an immediate marriage to release the fiery 
young lady from a painful position of depend- 
ence. Also her pride was intensely wounded 
by his father's absolute refusal to sanction an 
engagement between them. The end of the 
matter was that, closing her ears to his reason- 
able arguments, she left him in the manner we 
saw, declaring that he did not love her, and 
that she would find someone else to help her. 
Can you not fancy that, after this, he feels the 
fortune to be something of an obstacle between 
them ? Fate, you see, has given her the op- 
portunity to say: ‘ Yesterday you would not 
help me; to-day I do not need your help. 
Yesterday your father did not think me good 
enough to be your wife ; to-day I do not con- 
sider you good enough to be my husband.' 
That is what he fears to hear from her." 

" Remembering her face, I cannot doubt 
that it is very likely what he will hear," said 
Miss Chesney. " But everything depends 
upon whether she really loves him or not." 

" So I told him, adding that if she had only 
wished to make a convenience of him he would 


At the Tower of Columbus 125 


be well rid of her, especially since no amount 
of wealth could compensate for such an infer- 
nal temper.” 

“You seem to have been very sympathetic. 
And so, I presume, in view of this complica- 
tion, and of the ‘ infernal temper ’ besides, 
you have given up the romantic part to which 
I assigned you ? ” 

“ If it were possible for one to give up what 
he has never undertaken, I should say yes. 
But, if you remember, I replied to your kind 
suggestion by stating that I did not find in 
myself any inclination to play the romantic 
role in question.” 

“ It is a pity,” said the lady. “ It seemed 
to arrange itself admirably. The idea of your 
coming here to find a young and beautiful 
heiress — for I was right about the youth and 
beauty — and not marrying her is an absurd 
anticlimax. I suppose I shall now have to 
transfer my interest to Mr. Herresdorf. ” 

“ Why not to Mr. Stanford ? There is a 
man after your own heart, prompt, energetic — 
By Jove! I did n’t think of it before, but if 
he has the intention with which we are disposed 


126 The Chase of an Heiress 


to credit him, fate has played into his hand 
with a vengeance. Supposing that his inten- 
tion is to marry the heiress before she hears of 
her good fortune, he finds her ready, moved 
by anger, disappointment, and wounded pride, 
to accept any hand which is held out to her.” 

” Why do you say that ? She may be angry 
with her lover, and yet not ready to accept 
another man in order to ” 

“ Spite him ? She surely will. Again, re- 
member that face yesterday. It was the face 
of one ready for any desperate deed.” 

” Then why [turning upon him] are you 
idling here, instead of taking young Herresdorf 
and flying to her rescue ? If I were in your 
place and thought that, I would not waste an 
instant. She is only a child, after all, and to 
let her ruin her life, so full of bright possibili- 
ties, by marrying a scheming adventurer, will 
be shameful.” 

” Well, you see,” replied Leslie, very delib- 
erately, ” I am not equipped with a pair of 
wings, and consequently I cannot possibly fly 
to her rescue. And, short of flying, there is 
no way of reaching her. Besides, marriages 


At the Tower of Columbus 127 


are not usually made up in such hot haste. 
They only met yesterday morning, so that, 
however ready the fair Felisa may be, they can 
hardly be married before we reach Rosario to- 
morrow.’* 

Miss Chesney regarded him with a glance 
which was expressive of exasperation in the 
highest degree. 

I cannot imagine,” she said, ” how it is 
possible for a man to have so little energy as 
you possess. It is no wonder ” 

” Go on,” said Leslie, as she paused. ” It 
is no wonder ” 

” That you have never done anything in life, 
I was about to say,” she answered. ” But 
that is very rude, and I beg your pardon. I 
have no right to criticise your character or 
modes of action.” 

” Inaction, you mean, I fancy,” he replied, 
quietly. ” And, waiving the question of a 
right to criticise, you are right. It is no won- 
der that I have never done anything in life, 
nor so far won anything worth winning. As a 
matter of fact, very few things in life appear 
to me to be worth any exertion, and those 


128 The Chase of an Heiress 


which are worth every exertion seem to be 
beyond the reach of exertion to attain. Yet I 
really believe I am capable of energetic action 
should a need for it arise. Show me, for in- 
stance, how to win your favour, — which so far 
has been one of the things beyond the reach of 
exertion, — and, if necessary, I will go out and 
tilt at windmills.” 

” Tilting at windmills would certainly not 
be a means of winning my favour,” said she, 
flushing slightly. ” I am not so foolish. And 
I really had no intention of giving the conver- 
sation such a personal turn. ‘ Let us return 
to our sheep ’ — that is, to your particular lost 
sheep, Felisa. Do you think young Herres- 
dorf is very much attached to her ? ” 

” Very much, I think. He has certainly 
given every proof of it, short of the insane one 
she demanded.” 

” Then I formally transfer to him all right, 
title, and interest in the part which I vainly 
assigned to you. And I sincerely hope that 
he will put some spirit into it.” 

” It is more than probable that he will. Do 
you know, by the bye, that your going with 


At the Tower of Columbus 129 


us may be of infinite service to this poor girl ? 
Where her lover’s influence might fail to de- 
feat the schemes of Stanford, — since we are to 
continue to credit him with schemes, — your 
influence, as that of a woman belonging to the 
world she is about to enter, may be powerful 
to succeed.” 

“You are possibly right,” said she, thought- 
fully. “ A woman, especially a woman of the 
world, — and I suppose there is no doubt of my 
being that, — may have more influence than a 
lover with whom she is incensed, over this pas- 
sionate, undisciplined nature. Especially she 
would be likely to give to my opinion of Stan- 
ford a weight which she would not give to his. 
Yes, I see what you mean, and I am glad it is 
decided that we are to go with you. The story 
is an interesting one, the situation exciting. 
I want to see the end — and perhaps help to 
make it the right end.” 

“You will be an invaluable ally,’' he said, 
looking with admiration at her bright, deter- 
mined face. 

“ I really do not think I am an ally to be 

despised,” she agreed, smiling. “ And I am 
9 


130 The Chase of an Heiress 


wonderfully pleased at the prospect of seeing 
something of the interior of this romantic and 
almost unknown island. In fact, I am afraid 
that I am selfishly glad that your heiress ran 
away, and that you must give chase to her.” 

” I am very sure that I am glad of it,” 
Leslie said, candidly. ” It is such good for- 
tune having your companionship that for me 
she cannot run too far or too long — that is, if 
your zeal in the chase would not become ex- 
hausted.” 

” Mine would not, but I could not answer 
for papa’s, so we will hope that we shall find 
her at Rosario. Now, speaking of papa re- 
minds me that we must not keep him waiting 
longer at the chapel. Bring the camera and 
let us go.” 




CHAPTER IX 

THE CHASE BEGINS 

I N expecting to leave the next day on the 
search for his heiress, Leslie had reckoned 
without a knowledge of Santo Domingo habits 
of delay. That the sugar-laden boats from 
Rosario did not arrive at the time they were 
looked for surprised no one but himself, and 
that the process of unloading them after their 
arrival was most unduly prolonged proved 
more of a trial to his patience than even to 
that of the captain of the steamer. It was two 
days later than the time first appointed when 
the welcome intelligence came at last that the 
boats were ready to start on their return voy- 
age, and the party assembled for departure. 

Empty now, except for some stores which 
Mr. Herresdorf was sending to Rosario and 


132 The Chase of an Heiress 


the very light luggage of the travellers, the 
great boats lay in the stream, awaiting the 
little steam-tug which was taking its human 
freight at the wharf. Miss Chesney’s face 
seemed to reflect all the radiance of the per- 
fect day when she made her appearance, to- 
gether with her father. Her attire of duck 
skirt and blouse of soft, cool India silk was 
just what the expedition called for, and she 
herself was so fair, blithe, and charming that 
Mr. Herresdorf, who met her for the first time, 
was quite overcome by her beauty, and be- 
stirred himself in an unexampled manner in 
ordering the arrangements for her comfort. 
Moreover, he took occasion to say to her 
much what Leslie had expressed the day be- 
fore. 

“ I regard it as a very happy thing for this 
girl who has so unexpectedly inherited a great 
fortune,'" he said, “ that she should be brought 
into association with a lady who belongs to the 
world she is now to enter, and who will be an 
object-lesson to her of what she should be- 
come.” 

Miss Chesney smiled. ” Without flattering 


133 


The Chase Begins 

myself that I am very effective as an object- 
lesson/' she replied, “ I hope that I may be of 
some service to this young lady, whose life is 
about to undergo such a sudden and great 
transformation. I confess that I am immensely 
interested in her. The story is like a romance : 
one is full of expectation as to what the heroine 
will do." 

It was evident from the involuntary change 
of Mr. Herresdorf's countenance that he was in 
a state of not altogether agreeable expectation 
as to what the heroine would do. 

" H’m — yes," he said, hesitatingly. " The 
story is a good deal like a romance, but I wish 
we had known of this inheritance a little ear- 
lier. It would have prevented much — er — 
trouble, for the girl is of a disposition difficult 
to calculate upon. Had I known it only a few 
hours earlier, I should not have given informa- 
tion concerning her to a man who, I fear, is a 
scheming fortune-hunter." 

" What else 2iXQ,you^ mercenary old wretch ! " 
was the very uncomplimentary mental com- 
ment of Miss Chesney. But she said aloud : 
" Oh, I hope we are going to defeat his 


134 The Chase of an Heiress 


schemes, and bring the heiress back with us in 
triumph. We have good reason to hope so, 
since I am informed that there is an attachment 
of long standing between her and your son.” 

” Of long standing certainly,” Mr. Herres- 
dorf assented, ” but — ah — unfortunately I have 
hitherto been obliged to oppose it, owing to 
the fact that neither of them was in a position 
to think of marriage. Now, of course, matters 
are entirely changed. But we don’t know how 
she will regard them.” 

” We ’ll hope for the best,” said Miss Ches- 
ney. ” I must believe that romance will carry 
the day. You see, I have quite fallen in love 
with your son myself ” 

” He is deeply honoured,” said Mr. Herres- 
dorf, bowing. 

” So I can’t imagine the girl he is in love 
with resisting him.” 

” I hope that you are right,” said the father, 
very sincerely; ” but she has, I regret to say, 
an extremely violent character.” 

” If it is violent in one respect it will prob- 
ably be violent in another,” said the young 
lady, with cheerful optimism. ” Oh, I am 


135 


The Chase Begins 

sure everything will end as it should, and I 
promise you that I will do my best to bring 
about the proper ending.” 

We are indeed most fortunate in securing 
such assistance,” said Mr. Herresdorf, bowing 
again. 

And then he proceeded to order fresh 
arrangements for the comfort of this valuable 
ally. Chairs had already been placed on the 
small forward deck of the tug, so that the pas- 
sengers might enjoy the breeze and have full 
opportunity to observe the scenery as they 
ascended the river; he now delayed them 
longer in order to have an awning put up, so 
that Miss Chesney might be spared the fatigue 
of holding a parasol for several hours. This 
finally accomplished, and the boats attached 
with towing-lines, the little tug gave a shrill 
whistle and started up the river. 

” How delightful ! ” said Miss Chesney, with 
a soft breath of satisfaction. 

And indeed it would be difficult to imagine 
anything more delightful than the conditions 
which surrounded them. The air of crystalline 
clearness possessed also a quality of the most 


136 The Chase of an Heiress 


exhilarating freshness, the sky above was of 
the tint of turquoise, and the broad, beauti- 
ful river beneath of clearest emerald, while, 
glancing seaward, they could see the sparkling 
ocean spreading to the distant horizon and its 
waves breaking in white surf around the rocky 
point above which rose the picturesque mass 
of the castle. Flooded with brilliant sunshine 
the historic city lay, crowning the heights 
within its bastioned walls, its mighty masses of 
ruins and the towers of its ancient churches 
standing in bold relief, with the plumy palms 
that shot up here and there from its courts and 
gardens. A beautiful grove of these royal 
trees lined the opposite bank of the river, while 
a little farther along rose the green hillside 
against which stands the ancient double-arched 
structure of stone over the spring or well of 
pure delicious water known as the Well of 
Columbus, where even to the present time all 
sea-going vessels take their supply. 

A few minutes later, however, a bend of the 
stream shut all this picture from their view, 
and they saw before them only the broad, deep 
river, with its clear, swift current and banks 


137 


The Chase Begins 

fringed with the luxuriant growth of the trop- 
ics. A magnificent river it is, this lordly 
Ozama, especially after it has received its 
beautiful tributary the Isabella, and, like all 
the other rivers of this island, — to which Nature 
has given absolutely everything that is hers to 
give, and which man has only desolated and 
destroyed, — it flows through lands of the richest 
fertility, where only occasionally the forest has 
yielded to fields of sugar-cane, which year 
after year renews itself without cultivation. 
To the eyes of those who now ascended it, the 
enchanting vista presented at every turn, the 
wild, strange, wonderful beauty into which 
they entered, was in all respects the same as 
that which met the gaze of the first bold 
Spanish adventurers who looked upon it. Now 
and again a wooden wharf on the bank, and a 
road cut through the close, almost impene- 
trable mass of forest, indicated an estate near 
by, and once or twice they perceived the 
smoking chimney of a sugar-house where the 
grinding of cane was in progress. But the river 
itself flowed as majestically still and silent be- 
tween its walls of living green, and those walls 


138 The Chase of an Heiress 


seemed as untouched in their riotous splendour 
of towering trees and every conceivable form 
of undergrowth and parasite as if no such 
signs of man existed. As they proceeded on- 
ward, these signs became even more rare, and 
it seemed as if this marvellous emerald water- 
way led them, by one winding curve after 
another, into the very heart of a primeval 
world, — a world of Nature in all her virgin 
freshness, with such abounding variety, such 
wild luxuriance of loveliness, as she displays 
only beneath a tropical sun. Rare and beauti- 
ful birds abounded, and now and again a snow- 
white heron made an exquisite picture, poising 
itself on the branch of some tree fallen over 
the water. It was at sight of one of these that 
Leslie forgot himself far enough to wish for a 
gun, until shamed by Miss Chesney’s eyes. 

“ I wonder,” she said, severely, “ if it is not 
possible for a man of English blood to see a 
living creature without wanting to slaughter it ! 
How correct was the Frenchman’s description 
of an Englishman’s idea of amusement! — ‘ Let 
us go and kill something.’ And the spirit sur- 
vives wherever you find what is called the 


139 


The Chase Begins 

Anglo-Saxon, by whatever national name he 
describes himself.” 

” One does n’t expect a woman to sympa- 
thise with sport,” said he, in an ill-judged 
attempt at self-defence. 

” Oh, I beg your pardon,” she replied. 
” There are numbers of women who are so 
afraid of being considered womanly and of 
possessing a little sensitiveness and a few sur- 
viving prejudices in favour of humanity, that 
they outdo men in their enthusiasm for what 
is called ‘ sport.’ Well, I am not afraid of the 
imputation of being sentimental and humane 
when I say that what you call sport is gener- 
ally in its essence only cruelty. What could be 
more cruel than to desire to cut short the happy 
existence of that beautiful creature yonder — 
that creature who makes the world lovelier by 
merely existing in it — for no possible reason 
except to exercise your skill on a living tar- 
get ? ” 

” Of course,” he hastened to say, ” if I had 
a gun I should not think of shooting while you 
were by, since you hold such sentiments and 
the result would annoy you.” 


140 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ It would do more than annoy, it would 
enrage me,” she said, promptly, “ as wanton 
cruelty always does enrage me. I am dis- 
gusted that you should even think of such a 
thing.” 

And then, to indicate how deeply he was in 
disgrace, she turned her back upon him and 
began to talk to Ramon Herresdorf, who sat on 
her other side. 

” I feel,” she said, ” as if this steam-tug was 
a dreadful anachronism in these wild, beauti- 
ful, peaceful waters. We ought to be in one 
of the native boats, silently and swiftly gliding 
along, as if we were indeed penetrating an un- 
known world. One might fancy then that, 
instead of a modern sportsman anxious to 
slaughter inoffensive herons, one had for a 
companion a mail-clad conquistador,'* 

” Who would slaughter inoffensive Indians in- 
stead, ' ’ remarked the sportsman thus alluded to. 

” That is nonsense,” said the young lady, 
without turning her head. ” The Indians were 
not inoffensive. They met the discoverers 
with arms, — did you never hear of the Golfo 
de las Flechas ? — and although, on general 


The Chase Begins 141 

principles, one regrets that men should kill 
one another, one cannot be ignorant of the 
fact that they have been doing it since the be- 
ginning of time. From the denunciations of 
the conduct of the Spaniards towards the in- 
habitants of the New World to which one is so 
freely treated, one would really suppose that 
the forefathers of the critics had been models 
of justice and kindness in their treatment of 
the aborigines, and that the Indians were in 
possession of the continent of America to-day, 
instead of having been despoiled and tricked 
out of the whole of it. Forefathers, do I say ? 
Is there no killing and no cheating of them 
going on at present ? If not, it is only be- 
cause there are, practically speaking, none left 
either to kill or to cheat. I advise you to read 
A Century of Dishonour^ and then venture to 
talk of so-called Spanish cruelties! ” 

“ I really have n’t, you know,” answered 
meekly the victim of this attack. 

” If there is anything that I detest,” the 
speaker went on, unheeding the disclaimer, 
” it is the contemptible phariseeism which 
English and American writers have always dis- 


142 The Chase of an Heiress 


played in dealing with this subject. Putting 
aside the story of the American continent, 
which one would think would be enough to 
close their lips, if one considers only what took 
place in the Spanish Main, have they never 
heard of Drake and Morgan and their follow- 
ers ? History records nothing worse than the 
deeds of those freebooters; but, instead of 
being hanged as double-dyed pirates and mur- 
derers, they were crowned with honours and 
titles by their countrymen, and are held up as 
heroes to the present day.” 

“ But I must positively insist that I don’t 
admire them ; I consider them, on the con- 
trary, about as bad scoundrels as the world 
ever produced,” protested Leslie. ” And, in 
any event, all that took place very much before 
my time, and I fail to see why I should be 
reviled on account of it.” 

” I am not reviling you in particular,” said 
Miss Chesney: ” I am speaking generally. I 
could say a great deal more ” 

” I really hope you will not,” he interposed. 
” At least, I mean, I hope you will find a less 
exciting topic.” 


143 


The Chase Begins 

I am not excited at all [with lofty calm- 
ness]. I am only tired of hearing the same 
second-hand remarks made over and over again 
by every English or American traveller that 
one meets in Spanish- American countries.’’ 

Here young Herresdorf laughed. I should 
not think,” he said, ” that you would be likely 
to hear them repeated twice by the same per- 
son. It is a very unusual thing to hear any- 
one who is English or American speak as you 
do.” 

” I happen to have a sense of justice,” said 
she, ” and to have read some history, not 
merely a little fiction under that name.” 

Then Mr. Chesney, who had been smoking 
in meditative silence, made a diversion. 

” I begin to think that the difficulties of ex- 
ploring this country have been greatly exag- 
gerated,” he said. ” Certainly it cannot be 
more difficult to penetrate now than it was in 
the days of the conquistador es, who explored 
every part of it more thoroughly than it has 
ever been explored since.” 

” I assure you, sefior, ” said Ramon, ” that 
it is not difficult at all. It is a little fatiguing 


144 The Chase of an Heiress 


because of the necessity of making all journeys 
in the saddle, and because there are no public 
houses at which to stop. But if one has a 
good horse, and if it is not the rainy season, 
when the roads are likely to be almost impass- 
able, the journey from Santo Domingo to 
Santiago or to Samana is not difficult at all.’' 

“ I vote that we try it,” cried Miss Chesney. 
” It is what I have wanted to do from the first. 
Do you think we could get good horses at this 
hacienda, or whatever you call it, to which we 
are going, Mr. Herresdorf ? ” 

Oh, yes, seflorita, if you desire it, I have 
no doubt Don Mariano will find horses for you. 
But I thought — I hoped ” 

” Yes ? ” said she, as the young man stam- 
mered and paused. ” What was it you 
thought or hoped ?” 

” If you will allow me, then, to say so, — that 
you would return to Santo Domingo, and that 
Felisa might accompany you.” 

” Ah, I see,” said she, with a glance at him 
as kindly as it was bright. “You think I may 
be of service to you in managing this possibly 
refractory young lady.” 


145 


The Chase Begins 

“ I think/’ he responded, gravely, “ that 
you may be of great service to her. Believe 
me, I am not thinking of myself.” 

But I am thinking of you,” she replied, 
quickly. ” Will you pardon me if I say that I 
have heard your story, and that I am very 
much interested in it? You have my best 
wishes, and shall have my best help : I promise 
you that.” 

“You are very kind,” said he, and there 
was a grateful light in his handsome dark eyes. 
“ I think your help will mean a great deal. 
Felisa cannot but listen to what you will say 
to her. I do not mean,” he added, proudly, 
“ with regard to myself. If her own heart 
does not speak for me, I would not wish any- 
thing to be said in my behalf. But you can 
tell her what it is well that she should do, 
now that she is rich and important in the 
world.” 

“ Well,” said Miss Chesney, “ I am a here- 
tic on that as well as on a good many other 
points of the world’s creed. I don’t think that 
the mere possession of money constitutes im- 
portance. People in my eyes are important from 


146 The Chase of an Heiress 


what they are or from what they do. In other 
words, I value only character and achievement. 
Wealth is a mere accident, and, although a 
very powerful accident if used as a means to 
an end, it is really of no importance in itself 
except to its fortunate possessor. One should 
grow accustomed, I suppose, to the vulgar 
homage paid to it generally ; but I never wit- 
ness a display of the kind without wonder. 
Why on earth a man or a woman should be an 
object of intense interest and even adulation 
to others, who do not happen to be beggars, 
because he or she is rich, passes my com- 
prehension, accustomed as I am to the phe- 
nomenon.” 

” And yet,” said Leslie, who was lending an 
attentive ear to the conversation, ” I have 
heard you speak very eloquently of the value 
of wealth and the great disadvantages of 
poverty.” 

” And so you might hear me again,” she 
answered. ” But because I recognise the 
value of wealth to its possessor, is that any 
reason why I should think the mere fact of its 
possession renders him or her of importance ? 


147 


The Chase Begins 

Be more logical, if you please. And as for 
you, Mr. Herresdorf ” 

“ Ah, Ramon, if you please,” entreated the 
young man. ” ‘ Mr. Herresdorf ’ I do not 
know at all as my name.” 

” In your pretty Spanish fashion, Don Ra- 
mon, then, pray understand that it is for your 
benefit I have made this little sermon. Do 
not feel and do not behave as if this girl had 
by the accident of her inheritance become a 
much more important person than she was be- 
fore. She is a very fortunate person because 
of the great opportunities which this money 
gives her; but her importance is yet to be de- 
termined by the use she makes of it. For my 
part, if she fails to recognise the value of the 
disinterested affection which was hers in pov- 
erty and obscurity, I shall rate her importance 
as a human creature very low indeed.” 

” I think, sefiorita,” said the young listener 
to this admonition, ” that you are very wise. 
But, as you have said yourself, the world 
looks at these things differently, and unhap- 
pily I cannot close my eyes to the fact that 
Felisa is now very rich and that I am as poor 


148 The Chase of an Heiress 

as on the day she left me because I could not 
agree that we should be married at once. ' ’ 

“ If Felisa/' said Miss Chesney, emphatic- 
ally, “ does not understand that this is the 
one opportunity of her life — now that she is 
so rich — to know without doubt that she is 
loved for herself and not merely sought for her 
money, she is a very foolish Felisa indeed, and 
one who will deserve the fate which will cer- 
tainly befall her of becoming the victim of a 
fortune-hunter.” 




CHAPTER X 

THE HEIRESS HAS FLOWN 
HE beautiful journey into wonderland 



1 lasted several hours; and just when the 
party began to feel more and more as if they 
were explorers of a virgin world, since for many 
miles the marvellous forest fringing their way 
had been unbroken, and the clear shining river 
with its swiftly flowing current undisturbed by 
any human presence save their own, the tug 
suddenly gave a shrill whistle, and Ramon said 
to his companions : 

“ We have arrived. This is Rosario.” 

They looked around them. Still the green 
forest, with its dense, impenetrable under- 
growth, its giant creepers and wonderful para- 
sites, but just before them was a hewn-out 
opening such as those they had seen before, a 


ISO The Chase of an Heiress 


wooden wharf at the water’s edge, and a rail- 
road track leading up a hillside beyond. 

“ What! ” said Mr. Chesney, “ is there a 
railroad here ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” Ramon answered, ” such as is 
on all the sugar estates. One or two small 
engines and some cars with which to bring the 
sugar down for loading on the boats.” 

” How far distant is the sugar-house ? ” 

” About a mile or a mile and a half.” 

” It is strange that it was not placed upon 
the bank of the river, so as to load the sugar 
directly on the boats.” 

” The railroad would be needed all the same 
to bring the cane from the fields,” said the 
young Dominican, ” and hence it is best to 
have the sugar-house where the residence is, 
on the high lands, or llanoSy as we call them, in 
the middle of the estate.” 

The tug now whistled again, and was an- 
swered by another whistle inland. ” They 
hear us, and are coming down,” said Ramon. 

A few minutes later they steamed up to the 
wharf and disembarked, just as another shrill 
whistle was heard beyond the tree-tops, and 


The Heiress has Flown 15 1 


the next moment a small engine, with flat-car 
attached, came rushing down the steep incline 
of the hill toward them. On the car, balanc- 
ing himself with great skill in a standing posi- 
tion, was a small, dark man, who jumped off 
as soon as it halted, and came to meet them. 
He greeted Ramon cordially, and if he was 
surprised at the unexpected appearance of the 
strangers he did not manifest the surprise. 
Perhaps, as soon transpired, he was too deeply 
engrossed with other thoughts to notice them 
very much. 

“ This,” said Ramon, turning to the others, 
” is Senor Estragues, the manager of the es- 
tate. He speaks no English, therefore I must 
introduce you in Spanish. — These,” he added 
to Seflor Estragues, changing his tongue, 
” are Mr. and Miss Chesney, whom my father 
begs you will consider his guests, and Mr. 
Leslie, an American gentleman, who has come 
to make an important communication regard- 
ing Felisa.” 

” Felisa! ” cried Seftor Estragues, throwing 
up his hands. The sound of the name seemed 
to transform him. He lost all the quietness 


152 The Chase of an Heiress 


of demeanour which up to this moment had 
characterised him, and became a picture of ex- 
citement as he poured forth a torrent of words, 
speaking so rapidly that neither Mr. nor Miss 
Chesney, both of whom knew Spanish fairly 
well, could follow him. That his speech con- 
veyed some very important tidings, however, 
was apparent not only from the words they 
were able to distinguish, but from the effect 
they produced upon young Herresdorf. As 
he listened, as he grasped the full import of 
what was said, he became pale as if the news 
were that of death, and his great, dark eyes grew 
wildly startled in expression. He seized the arm 
of Estragu^s with eager questioning, to which 
the other returned another torrent of words. 

“ For heaven’s sake, what does it all mean ? ” 
Leslie asked Miss Chesney. “ Can you under- 
stand them ? — has the man lost his senses ? 

“ He speaks so rapidly I can only partially 
understand him,” she replied. ” But I think 
— I fear that some harm has come to Felisa.” 

“Harm!” cried Ramon, turning toward 
her. “ The worst — the worst, seftorita! She 
has gone away with that man.” 


The Heiress has Flown 153 


“Stanford?” exclaimed Leslie and Miss 
Chesney together. 

“ Stanford — yes. May the curse of God be 
upon him ! ” 

Leslie and Miss Chesney looked at each other 
aghast. If this were so, what terrible, what 
irremediable thing had happened through the 
fatal delay of that first morning, through the 
lost hours they had so lightly idled away in 
the companionship of each other! This was 
perhaps the first thought in the minds of both. 
Then Leslie turned to Ramon. 

“ Where has she gone ? — and how long ?” 
he asked. “ Surely she can be overtaken. 
Tell this person — he is her stepfather, is he 
not ?” 

“ The husband of her stepmother — yes.” 

“ Tell him what news I have brought, and 
that we must save the girl from the scoundrel 
who has taken her away, at any cost.” 

In language almost as rapid and vehement 
as his own, Ramon then told Seftor Estragu^s 
of the news which Leslie brought. It had the 
effect of absolutely overwhelming him, and for 
a time rendering him incapable of speech. 


154 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ Felisa! ” he gasped, in a tone of incredulity, 
— “ Felisa! ’’ and could say no more. 

“ Tell him,” said Leslie, ” that there is not 
any doubt of it, — that Felisa is in her own 
right one of the richest women in the world, 
and that this villain who has taken her off 
knew it. Have you told him that ? Well,” 
— as Ramon signified assent, — ” tell him now 
that we must get her out of his hands, if any 
effort can accomplish it, and ask him where 
they have gone.” 

” He does not know,” replied the young 
man, despairingly. 

Nonsense! He must know! How long 
have they been gone ? What are the circum- 
stances of the flight ? ” 

” It is supposed that they left this morning 
at daybreak,” Ramon answered. ” Their ab- 
sence was discovered when the family arose. 
Then was found a letter from Felisa saying ” 
— here the speaker for a moment choked — 
” that she was gone for — for always, and that 
she wished me to be told that she had found 
someone to help her, though I would not.” 

Did n’t I tell you she was possessed of a 


The Heiress has Flown 155 

devil ? ” said Leslie, too angry to consider his 
words. “ She is as heartless and cruel as she 
is bad-tempered. You are well rid of her, 
and, by heaven! I think the best thing would 
be to allow her to abide by her choice." 

No, no," cried Miss Chesney. " She is 
but a child, — a passionate, bad-tempered child, 
it is true, but lifelong misery is too heavy a 
punishment for her fault. Besides, think of 
allowing the wretch who has carried her away 
to be gratified by succeeding in his scheme. 
Never! You must save her at all hazards, at 
any cost, if she possibly can be saved." 

" Yes, seftor," said Ramon, " the seftorita is 
right. She must be saved if possible. As for 
her treatment of me, that does not matter; 
that concerns only myself. Do not think of it 
again. But she is so young, and she has now 
such brilliant prospects, that we must not fail 
to make every effort to save her from this 
scoundrel who has deceived her and taken her 
away in ignorance of her great fortune." 

" She is n’t worth an effort," said Leslie, 
" but, since I feel partly accountable for this, 
because I delayed in seeing your father on the 


156 The Chase of an Heiress 


day of my arrival, I will do my utmost — if we 
find that there is anything to do.” 

” And meanwhile,” inquired Mr. Chesney, 
” are we to stay here all day discussing the 
affair ?” 

This recalled them to the fact that the en- 
gine and car were waiting. Seflor Estragu^s, 
roused to a sense of the proprieties of life, 
made the usual compliments to the guests 
commended to his charge. 

” My house is yours,” he assured them, 
” and we will do all we can to render you com- 
fortable, but I regret that you will find my 
wife in great distress on account of this un- 
happy occurrence, this conduct of one whom 
she loved as her own child.” 

Doha Lucia has indeed deserved better 
treatment from Felisa,” said Ramon, address- 
ing Miss Chesney. ” And, although she 
chafed against her life here, she could not 
say that Don Mariano was not also kind to 
her.” 

I endeavoured to be so,” said Don Mari- 
ano; ” but she is of a disposition the most 
violent, the most unhappy.” 


The Heiress has Flown 157 


I am intensely disgusted with her,” said 
Miss Chesney ; ” but all the same, for the sake 
of the five millions, and in order to defeat Mr. 
Stanford, we must move heaven and earth to 
save her. Now we will go, papa. ^ I am afraid 
you are not as much interested in this errant 
heiress as the rest of us are.” 

I confess,” answered Mr. Chesney, ” that 
I am not so much interested as to forget the 
need of rest and refreshment. I fear, however, 
that we cannot expect much attention or com- 
fort in a house upset by an elopement.” 

” Do not fear, seftor, but that your needs 
will be attended to as well as possible,” said 
Ramon. ” I will take care of that.” 

” Oh,” said Mr. Chesney, who had the 
grace to look a little ashamed, ” anything will 
do. I only regret that we should intrude at 
such a time on people who are so much dis- 
turbed. What a very — um — unfortunate kind 
of young person this heiress appears to be! 
As for you,” added he, addressing Leslie, ” I 
believe we spoke the other day of your chase 
of her. Instead of ending, it seems to be now 
only beginning.” 


158 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ So it appears,” Leslie assented, despond- 
ently. 

They had all by this time mounted upon the 
flat-car, where the chairs from the deck of 
the tug were placed. Miss Chesney, however, 
declined to sit down, since the danger was great 
of flying off at a tangent into space : she pre- 
ferred standing like the men, and balancing 
herself with the aid of her father’s arm. The 
little engine put itself in motion, climbed the 
steep grade with some puffing, and on gaining 
the top sounded a whistle of triumph and rat- 
tled away briskly over the level land, which 
now spread far as the eye could view, covered 
in the immediate foreground - with fields of 
densely growing, luxuriant cane, and in the 
distance with forest. 

A few minutes brought them in sight of the 
smoking chimney of the sugar-house; a little 
later they paused before its great mass of 
machinery, where the air was filled with the 
odour of sugar, and where Don Mariano, 
springing down, apologised for the fact that it 
was necessary to walk across the few yards in- 
tervening between the end of the track and the 


The Heiress has Flown 159 


residence near by. This was a large wooden 
building, a single story in height, surrounded 
by a wide verandah. At sight of it Miss 
Chesney paused. 

I think,’' she said to young Herresdorf, 
“ that Doha Lucia — is not that how you call 
her ? — should have a little warning before we 
come upon her. Do you go, therefore, and 
beg her not to give herself any trouble about 
us. Meanwhile, as I have never seen the pro- 
cess of sugar-making, I will go over the sugar- 
house, if Seflor Estragu^s does not object, 
and if he will call someone to act as our guide 
— for you will come too, papa, will you not ? 
No, Mr. Leslie, certainly not you also, because 
your duty is to go at once and make your com- 
munication of Felisa’s inheritance to Felisa's 
stepmother and guardian." 

"You think of everything, seflorita," said 
Ramon, " and you are very considerate. I 
will tell Doha Lucia what you say." 

He then spoke to Don Mariano, who, an- 
swering, " Si, si f with great alacrity, called 
a young man from the sugar-house and com- 
mitted the strangers to his care. Mr. Chesney 


i6o The Chase of an Heiress 


somewhat reluctantly acquiesced in his daugh- 
ter’s arrangement, the wisdom of which was 
justified in his eyes only by the reflection that 
it would give time for such preparations as 
might be required for their reception. 

It is unnecessary to follow Leslie in his inter- 
view with the stepmother of the wilful Felisa. 
What he was chiefly struck with was the 
extreme unworldliness she displayed in her 
indifference to the news of the great fortune 
which the girl had inherited. It did not seem 
to occur to her, nor in any perceptible manner 
to augment her distress, that all benefit in this 
inheritance (if Stanford succeeded in his object) 
would now be lost to those who up to this time 
had cared for and befriended the otherwise 
friendless girl. 

“Yes, it is a pity,” she agreed, “ a great 
pity, that Felisa should have gone away in 
ignorance of what would have given her the 
freedom she desired. For she was like a wild 
bird beating her wings against a cage, seftor,” 
the kind woman added. “ But at least, if this 
is so, the man will — marry her ? ’’ 

“Marry her?’’ repeated Leslie, grimly. 


The Heiress has Flown i6i 


when this was translated to him. “ Be sure of 
that. Until he marries her he has no claim 
upon the only thing he cares for, — her money. 
It is the heiress whom he has carried off, and 
to whom he has not breathed one word of her 
inheritance. But he must have known or sus- 
pected my errand in the island, else why should 
he have been in such haste ? The lady of your 
heart, Ramon, was certainly satisfied with 
scant wooing.’' 

“ She was so angry with me, seftor,” said 
Ramon, “ that she grasped the first means of 
revenge. Else this is not like Felisa, who is 
as proud as she is passionate.” 

” The scoundrel found his opportunity ready- 
made for him,” said Leslie. ” And the worst 
of it is that you and I both helped to make it. 
But if we are to frustrate him — of which, I 
fear, there is little hope — we must set to work 
at once. Find out everything about the flight. 
Ask how they were mounted, and in what 
direction they are supposed to have gone.” 

Ramon turned to Don Mariano, who to 
these questions poured forth a flood of reply, 
from which the following sum of definite in- 

II 


1 62 The Chase of an Heiress 


formation was extracted. Stanford, it tran- 
spired, had on the day before visited a small 
native proprietor resident near by, who was the 
possessor of two horses, and bargained for their 
use for a few days. At daybreak he appeared 
at this man’s house, took the horses, and rode 
away, accompanied by a boy about twelve 
years old (the son of the owner), who was to 
bring them back. Further than this nothing 
was known positively. It was supposed that 
Felisa had been waiting for him near by, and 
that, having mounted her on one of the horses, 
he took the boy up behind himself on the 
other. But this was only conjecture. All that 
was certain was that they were gone, leaving 
behind the note from Felisa which Ramon 
now held in his hand, and that there was no 
clue to the road they had taken. 

“ But where is it supposed that they would 
go ? ” Leslie impatiently asked. 

Ramon spread out his hands with a gesture 
which expressed a large ignorance on this 
point. 

“ Sefior,” he replied, “ how can one say ? 
The whole island is before them. We can 


The Heiress has Flown 163 


know nothing until we follow and inquire. 
But in my opinion they will make for Samand. ’ ’ 

“ Why for Samand ? Is n’t that very far 
from here ? ” 

“ On the contrary, it is very near. You im- 
agine it far because you were there in the ship, 
which then came around the coast to Santo 
Domingo City ; but by land, across the island, 
it is but a short distance.” 

How far ? ” 

“To Sanchez, at the head of Samand Bay, 
it is not more than twenty leagues from here.” 

“Is it possible ? Then, of course, to San- 
chez they would go, since they could there 
take ship and leave the island, which Stanford 
would certainly desire to do as quickly as pos- 
sible. Does not the man from whom the 
horses were obtained know their destination ? ” 

“ Don Mariano says that no information 
could be obtained from him.” 

“ Nevertheless, be sure he knows, and if the 
destination had not been near by he would not 
have given his horses, nor sent a child to bring 
them back alone. We may regard that as cer- 
tain. However, it may be as v/ell for you to 


164 The Chase of an Heiress 


see what you can do in the way of extracting 
information from him as soon as our arrange- 
ments for pursuit are made. Can Don Mariano 
mount us ? ” 

To this question Don Mariano promptly 
signified assent. He had not thought it nec- 
essary to take any steps toward pursuing Felisa 
when he had conceived her to be only a very 
wilful, troublesome, and unimportant person: 
indeed, it is likely that his sentiments with re- 
gard to her had been altogether in accord with 
those of Mr. Herresdorf, and that he had 
secretly regarded her departure as a good rid- 
dance. But his feeling also had undergone a 
great change since the news of her inheritance 
had reached him, and he was now ready and 
eager to aid in organising pursuit. It appeared 
that he had at command several very good 
horses, — better animals in every respect than 
those on which the eloping pair were mounted, 
— and while he went to have these made ready, 
Dofia Lucia on her part hastened away to have 
a lunch spread as soon as possible, first begging 
Ramon to go and bring in Mr. and Miss Ches- 
ney, with the assurance that she would do her 


The Heiress has Flown 165 


best for them. Leslie, however, bade Ramon 
devote himself to the preparations for their 
immediate departure, while he would bear 
Dofta Lucia's message. 

Going over to the sugar-house, he met Mr. 
and Miss Chesney emerging from it, the former 
declaring that he did not find the fumes of 
boiling sugar sufficiently sustaining to take the 
place of more solid nourishment. “ The peo- 
ple can at least give one a glass of milk,” he 
was saying when Leslie met them. 

” Doha Lucia begs that you will come over 
to the residence, where she will do all in her 
power to make you comfortable,” he said. 
” She is at this moment engaged in preparing 
a lunch which it is to be hoped will include 
something besides a glass of milk.” 

“If it includes that, I shall be satisfied,” 
said Mr. Chesney. “ Well, have you dis- 
covered anything further about the flight of 
your eloping pair ? ”- 

“ Only that they will probably make for 
Sanchez, at the head of Samana Bay. It seems 
— strangely enough, to me — that we are near 
the place.” 


i66 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ Why, of course we are near it," exclaimed 
Miss Chesney. " Have you never looked at a 
map of the island ? It is not more than a hun- 
dred miles across from Santo Domingo City to 
Samana, the two points being almost opposite 
each other, at the narrowest part of the island. " 

" I am afraid that I don’t know much of 
the geography of Santo Domingo," Leslie ad- 
mitted. " But at all events I shall start in half 
an hour in that direction on a forlorn hope of 
pursuit." 

" Very forlorn, I think," said Mr. Chesney. 
" How are you going ? " 

" On horseback, of course. No one travels 
otherwise here, you know." 

Papa," said Miss Chesney, stopping ab- 
ruptly to address her father, " here is our 
chance to see something indeed of the interior 
of the island. What is to prevent our taking 
horses also and going with Mr. Leslie over to 
Samana ? " 

Katherine," replied her father, with en- 
ergy, " I think you are distracted. What is to 
prevent us ? Why, everything. How are we 
prepared for such an expedition ? " 

"We are perfectly prepared," said the young 


The Heiress has Flown 167 


lady. In the vague hope of penetrating 
farther after we once got so far as this, I have 
brought everything necessary for a ride of a 
hundred — two hundred — three hundred miles! 
In point of fact, I would undertake to explore 
the whole island with the equipment we have.” 

But it is n’t a hundred miles from here to 
Samana,” said Leslie, on whom flashed de- 
lightedly the hope of a companionship which 
would have made a journey over Sahara agree- 
able. ” At the utmost it is not reckoned to be 
more than sixty, and that seems doubtful. 
Really, sir,” — turning to Mr. Chesney, — ” I 
wish you would take the idea into serious con- 
sideration. It is a good opportunity to see 
something of this island, which is an absolute 
terra incognita even to its own inhabitants, and 
such a traveller as yourself cannot possibly be 
content to leave it without having seen any 
more than a fringe of coast.” 

” H’m ! ” said Mr. Chesney, ” I don’t know. 
I doubt if there is anything in the interior to 
repay one for the certain hardships to be en- 
countered.” 

” There is everything,” cried his daughter, 
enthusiastically, ” and here we are at a good 


i68 The Chase of an Heiress 


starting-point, with an easy destination ahead 
of us. Oh, papa, don t think, do7i t consider; 
just say that you will go.” 

” Confound this heiress of yours, Leslie! ” 
said Mr. Chesney, irritably. ” She is at the 
bottom of the whole thing. You want to go,” 
addressing his daughter, ” because of your in- 
terest in this ridiculous chase.” 

”I am interested in it, — very much in- 
terested,” she acknowledged; “but if there 
were no heiress and no chase in question I 
should still want to go. Think! It is only a 
ride of fifty or sixty miles at the utmost; and 
what is that to us ? To people unaccustomed 
to travelling, or to horses, it might be some- 
thing formidable; but not to us.” 

“ I doubt if there is such a thing as a decent 
horse to be had here,” said Mr. Chesney, be- 
ginning to waver. 

Miss Chesney shot a radiant glance at Leslie, 
— a glance which said that she considered her 
point gained. 

Oh, I hope we may find some horses that 
can carry us,” she said, eagerly. “ Let us 
hasten and see.” 



CHAPTER XI 
THE CHASE CONTINUES 
HE man as well as the woman who hesi- 



1 tates is lost. It was vain after this for 
Mr. Chesney to attempt to stem his daughter’s 
determination to make one of the rescuing ex- 
pedition. And in fact, after discussing the 
matter with Don Mariano, and being assured 
that the journey to Samana involved no hard- 
ship beyond that of one night spent on the 
wayside in some hut of the country, he began 
to think that it might be as well to embrace 
such an opportunity to see something of a land 
almost as unknown to-day as when the great 
Discoverer led his little band of gentlemen over 
the mountain pass, still called in memory of 
them the Pass of the Hidalgos, into that plain, 
perhaps the most beautiful and most fertile in 


1 70 The Chase of an Heiress 


the world, which he named in his delight the 
Vega Real — Royal Plain. 

The horses Don Mariano provided for the 
party, which included himself, were not hand- 
some in appearance, but wiry and enduring, as 
the horses of the island mostly are. And great 
was the surprise, greater yet the admiration, of 
Leslie and young Herresdorf when Miss Ches- 
ney made her appearance equipped in a riding- 
habit that sat admirably upon her slender 
figure, and wearing a soft felt hat which was as 
becoming as it was suitable for the occasion. 
In this attire, and with a light mackintosh tied 
behind her saddle, she declared herself ready 
to ride to the Haytian frontier, if need were. 

It was settled that the party should carry no 
weight, in order not to lessen the speed of 
their progress ; but a servant followed on 
another horse laden with their bags and with 
some hammocks which Dofta Lucia was 
thoughtful enough to provide, — “for beds 
you will not find,” she said, shaking her head. 

There was no long delay over these details 
of departure. Within two hours after Leslie 
had met Mr. and Miss Chesney at the door of 


The Chase Continues 171 

the sugar-house, they were mounted and riding 
away, for everyone knew that if there was now 
little hope of saving the headstrong girl from 
the fate she had brought upon herself, that 
slender hope was diminished by every moment 
of further delay. Even Mr. Chesney began to 
show signs that the spirit of the pursuit was 
waking within him, and made no protest when 
it was declared that they must ride as briskly 
as possible. Their horses were fresh, and they 
started off at a good pace. 

I am almost ashamed to say that I find 
this very exhilarating and delightful,” Kather- 
ine confessed to Leslie as they rode side by 
side over a road which wound through the 
luxuriant cane-fields toward the forest before 
them. ” It would be delightful enough simply 
to be mounted on horseback and going into 
scenes new, fresh, and wild ; but when the ex- 
citement and interest of the chase on which we 
are bent are added to it, it is an experience 
which I would not have missed for anything. 
Really, I owe a great deal to you and your 
heiress.” 

” I am glad you enjoy it,” said Leslie, smil- 


172 The Chase of an Heiress 


ing. “ It reconciles me to what I should 
otherwise consider a very disagreeable busi- 
ness. For I confess I don’t like pursuing 
runaway young ladies. It is not exactly the rdle 
I should choose in the drama of an elopement. 

She laughed. “ But remember that this is 
not an ordinary elopement. Our object is not 
to separate lovers, however foolish, but to 
rescue a deluded girl ” 

“ And her millions.” 

” Certainly her millions, from the man who 
is carrying her off for the sake of those millions. 
We are chasing him — remember that; we are 
trying to defeat him in one of the most auda- 
cious schemes of abduction ever attempted.” 

” Can one exactly call it abduction, when 
the lady has gone off of her own free will ? ” 

” Do you consider it free will, when she is in 
ignorance of his motive, and wild with passion 
besides ? ” 

” Not to speak of an amiable desire to re- 
venge herself on the man she has up to this 
time professed to love. It is really impossible 
for me to feel any interest in the chase on her 
account ; but I agree that we want to frustrate 


The Chase Continues 173 


the scoundrel who has carried her off, and I 
suppose the Anglo-Saxon blood for which you 
were scorning me on our way up the river is 
pleasantly excited by the fact of chasing 
anything. ” 

She could not but laugh again. “ Well, 
who ever questioned that a chase is exciting ? 
Oh, do you think that there is the least hope 
that we shall overtake them ? ” 

Not much, I am afraid, — to speak quite 
candidly. But we should not feel satisfied 
unless we made the effort, you know.” 

Not you and I, at least. For I cannot 
forget that your delay — of which I was the 
cause — brought all this about.” 

” Don’t exaggerate. It only gave an oppor- 
tunity which no one could possibly have fore- 
seen. And I confess that I cannot altogether 
regret it, when I think that as one consequence 
we are making this little expedition together, 
and that you are enjoying it.” 

” I can’t help that,” said she, a little con- 
tritely; ” but my heart is quite set on accom- 
plishing the object of our expedition, I assure 
you. Why are we stopping here now ? ” 


174 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ This, I presume, is the house of the man 
who furnished the horses, and who is supposed 
to know something of the route of the abscond- 
ing pair.” 

“You speak as if they were forgers,” said 
Miss Chesney, as she drew up her horse where 
the others had already paused, in front of one 
of the palm-thatched houses common in the 
country, — a rude, simple building of two rooms, 
with one or two primitive outhouses. Under 
a great tamarind-tree in front of this dwelling, 
a man of the darkly mixed blood of the island 
paisanos stood, talking with a rather sullen air 
to Don Mariano and Ramon. 

” I don’t understand what that fellow is say- 
ing,” Leslie observed, ” but I am sure from 
his manner that we are wasting time in halting 
here. There is no information to be drawn 
from him.” 

But this proved to be a mistake. Questioned 
authoritatively, the man finally admitted that 
the horses had been engaged to go to Sanchez, 
from which place his son was to bring them 
back. Of anything save this bare fact he 
professed complete ignorance. 


The Chase Continues 


175 


“ It does not matter,” said Ramon, as they 
rode on. “We are certain now that we are on 
the right road. The rest lies with their horses 
— and with ours.” 

“ Do you know anything of their horses ? ” 
Leslie asked. 

Don Mariano says that they are very poor. 
He thinks that they will certainly break down 
in crossing the cordillera.” 

“ Ah ! ” cried Miss Chesney, “ we shall cross 
the mountains, then ? ” 

“ Without doubt, sefiorita : did you not 
know it ? We must cross them to reach the 
north side of the island.” 

“ Where do we cross ? ” asked Leslie. 

“ There is but one place, the pass called the 
Silldn de la Viuda. Ah, sefiorita, you are 
startled ! Do you not know what that was ? ” 

It had been a sudden, sharp report, like a 
pistol-shot close at hand, — for they had now 
entered the forest, — which made Miss Chesney 
suddenly rein up her horse. “ Certainly I 
know what it was,” she replied, quickly. “ It 
was the discharge of a gun.” 

“ Not at all. It was only the explosion of 


1 76 The Chase of an Heiress 


the higuero — I know not how you call it. 
Mire ! ’’ He rode into the woods, and in a 
moment returned, bearing a corrugated, toma- 
to-shaped fruit in his hand. “ This it was,’' 
he said. “ When it is dry, it explodes sud- 
denly with a loud noise, as you heard, and 
scatters the seed, of which it is full, in all 
directions.” 

” The sand-box fruit,” said Leslie. ” I 
have heard of it, but I never saw it before. 
Like Miss Chesney, I had no doubt that report 
was caused by the discharge of firearms.” 

And now for a time there was little conversa- 
tion possible, for their way was the merest 
apology of a road, being in fact hardly more 
than a trail cut through the forest by the 
simple means of clearing out the dense under- 
growth and such trees as stood immediately in 
the line followed. As they rode in single file, 
with the thick foliage arching over their heads 
and the wonderful tropical verdure on each 
hand, it was difficult to believe that they were 
following any path at all, and not breaking a 
way for themselves through the virgin wilder- 
ness. Then came the fording of swift, clear. 


The Chase Continues 177 


flashing streams, the banks of which were such 
a marvel of vegetation, of climbing, flowering 
vines and parasites, of exquisite orchids and 
beautiful ferns, that only the thought of the 
pressing necessity for haste prevented Miss 
Chesney from demanding a halt, that the eye 
might be, in some degree at least, satisfied 
with gazing upon these strange, new forms of 
beauty. 

Then presently out of the forest again and 
riding over rolling savannas, broken by belts 
of timber and covered by luxuriant grass, but 
almost entirely without sign of cultivation or 
habitation. And here came into view the 
mountains towards which their faces were set, 
— glorious, cloud-capped heights, to the feet 
of which rolled these magnificent plains. 
Katherine Chesney uttered an exclamation of 
delight. 

“ Oh, what a picture! What a scene! ” she 
cried. “ And it is there we are going ? ’’ 

“ Yes, sefiorita,” Ramon answered. “ Do 
you see that deep depression yonder in the 
range ? That is the Silldn de la Vtuda ; there 
we must cross.” 


\7 


178 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ Can we cross to-day ? ” 

“ Hardly, I fear. We are still many leagues 
distant from the cordillera. If we can only 
reach the foot of the mountains by night, so 
as to be ready to ascend early to-morrow, we 
shall do well.” 

“ But if we stop,” said she, ” I do not see 
how we can possibly overtake those whom we 
are pursuing, and who have so much the ad- 
vantage of us in their start.” 

” Putting all question of ourselves aside,” 
said Leslie, ” it would hardly be possible for 
our horses to go on indefinitely.” 

” Indefinitely, — no. I never thought of 
that. But we should go on until we reach the 
place where they have stopped. Else what is 
gained by our riding after them ? ” 

” If we were alone, we men, and our horses 
could stand it, we might do that — ” Leslie 
was beginning, when she interrupted him 
impetuously : 

” What do you mean by talking in that 
manner ? ‘ If you were alone.’ Do you sup- 

pose I came along to be a drag upon you, to 
retard your movements in any degree ? Do 


The Chase Continues 179 


you imagine that I am not as capable of riding 
on until we accomplish our end as you are ? If 
I had thought otherwise I certainly would not 
have come. I am astonished at you, Mr. 
Leslie, — astonished. I thought you knew me 
better.” 

I should have done so,” replied Leslie, 
meekly. ” I am rather astonished myself for 
venturing to suggest that you had any feminine 
weakness. We ’ll promise not to consider 
you, then; but we must not break down our 
horses, you know : that would be to make suc- 
cess impossible. And I fancy that by the 
time we reach the foot of those mountains 
yonder we shall be obliged to give them a 
rest.” 

” If we can only reach there! ” said Ramon, 
gazing at the great mass of the yet distant 
range, as if his fiery impatience were almost 
more than he could bear. 

” If we only had some roads! ” said Leslie. 
” I am sure this is the original trail of the con- 
quistadoreSy and that no one has ever done a 
stroke of work on it since they made it.” 

” There is a faint hope,” said Ramon, on 


i8o The Chase of an Heiress 


whose preoccupied attention this remark fell 
unheeded, “ that if we can reach the foot of 
the pass we may there find those whom we 
seek. It is true that they have the start of us 
by more than half a day ; but, unless they are 
able to cross the mountains before night, they 
must stop on this side; for no one would at- 
tempt the pass after nightfall. Now, it is not 
likely that they have been able to cross, be- 
cause their horses are poor, and the roads, as 
you perceive, are very bad. Therefore, I re- 
peat, there is a hope — a faint hope — of over- 
taking them at the foot of the pass, if we are 
only able to reach there ourselves.” 

Miss Chesney set her mouth in a resolute 
line. ” We must reach there,” she said. ” It 
is not a thing to be debated or questioned ; it 
simply must be done. I, for one, will not 
consent to stop short of it.” 

Ramon glanced at the sun with something 
like a groan. At that moment he would have 
given much for the power of Joshua. ” If we 
can accomplish it! ” he said. ” But it will be 
hard work.” 

It was hard work, both for the horses and 


The Chase Continues i8i 


their riders. The condition of the roads made 
fast riding an impossibility, let them chafe as 
they would, and although whenever they found 
themselves on an open stretch of the llanos 
they had a wild and, to Katherine and Leslie, 
an exhilarating gallop, their progress was on 
the whole so much retarded that the near ap- 
proach of night — which follows in this tropical 
region almost immediately on the setting of 
the sun — found them still several miles distant 
from the great cordillera, which now loomed 
before them like a mighty wall. 

“ Senorita,” said Ramon, suddenly riding 
up to Miss Chesney’s side, “ we are now near 
an estancia ^ — that is, a small farm, you know, 
— where Don Mariano and your father are talk- 
ing of stopping for the night. It is well that 
you shall stop; but Mr. Leslie and I will, I 
think [he glanced at Leslie] ride on to the 
foot of the pass. We cannot be much more 
than a league distant from it now.” 

” And if you can ride on,” said Miss Ches- 
ney, ” what is there to prevent our doing so ? 
I will not consent to stop. It is absurd. We 
are not riding to amuse ourselves, — at least not 


1 82 The Chase of an Heiress 


primarily, — and since we came out to do a 
thing, we should do it." 

These sentiments she very forcibly repeated 
to her father and Don Mariano when they 
presently announced to her their intention of 
stopping at the estancia ; and such was the 
effect of her eagerness and eloquence, not to 
speak of her obstinacy, that it was finally re- 
solved to push on and make an effort to reach 
the foot of the pass before night absolutely fell 
upon them. 

"You acknowledge that there is a faint hope 
of finding them there," she said to Don Mari- 
ano, " a faint hope that they have not been 
able to cross the mountain. How, then, can 
you entertain for a moment the idea of halt or 
delay ? Is it not imperative that we should 
rescue that girl at the earliest possible 
moment ? " 

" Yes, yes, that is certainly imperative," 
Don Mariano agreed, somewhat awed by her 
flashing eyes. " But it is only a hope, a very 
faint hope, which we have of overtaking them 
this side of the pass ; and if we do not, and are 
belated in the woods " 


The Chase Continues 183 


With a curling lip she pointed to the sky. 
Floating high in the eastern heaven was the 
moon, very near its full, — a beautiful pale white 
orb in the sunlight pouring upon it, but with 
the promise of an infinite resplendency when 
the king of day should be withdrawn and her 
chaste majesty should rule the night. 

“ Is there any danger of our being very 
badly belated with that to guide us ? ” she 
asked. 

“ That," replied her father, dryly, " can 
show us our way, it is true, but it cannot 
provide us with shelter." 

" Oh, for shelter," said Ramon, eagerly, 
" there is an empty house — a hut, but as good 
as that at which you were about to stop — just 
at the foot of the mountain, where travellers 
often halt. With the hammocks, you can be 
as comfortable there as at the estancia^ — per- 
haps more so." 

" Then, in heaven’s name, let us get on," 
said Mr. Chesney, pettishly. 

And so they pressed on. Their horses were 
now very tired, so fast riding was impossible ; 
but as the sun presently sank in the west, with 


184 The Chase of an Heiress 


a wonderful but short-lived glory of gold, the 
air freshened, and a delicious breeze, filled with 
a wild, sylvan fragrance, suggestive of the 
mountains whence it came, began to blow in 
their faces from the great heights they were 
steadily approaching. It revived their ener- 
gies, exhausted by the long ride during the 
hot afternoon, and in the more elastic tread of 
their horses they perceived that these also felt 
it. Then, as the twilight yielded to the reign 
of night, and the moon lent her enchantment 
to the scenes through which they rode, to the 
deep forests, where the air was heavy with 
perfume, to swift, silvery streams pouring down 
from their mountain sources, and to the glory 
of wide-spreading plains and majestic towering 
heights, a silence as of awe in the vast, marvel- 
lous beauty of nature fell upon them. Kather- 
ine Chesney said to herself that she would never 
forget this ride as long as she lived. 

But, enchantment though it was, it came to 
an end at last. Just when Miss Chesney began 
to think that it was like a dream which need 
have no ending, but would go on indefinitely 
in ever-deepening beauty, Ramon, who was 


The Chase Continues 185 


riding in front, uttered an exclamation and 
turned to his companions. 

“ The house! ” he said, pointing. 

The next instant they saw before them the 
house of which he spoke, — a rude, thatched 
hut, standing near the road, by the side of a 
stream singing over its stones, and under the 
shade of immense spreading trees. 

They looked at each other. Apparently 
those whom they sought were not here, for all 
was still, dark, and silent ; no horses were 
fastened near the house, nor was there any 
gleam of light. 

Ramon said nothing. He rode forward and 
flung himself from his saddle before the door. 

The rest of the party halted and sat motion- 
less on their horses, watching him. Instinct- 
ively they felt that it was his right to enter 
the house first and determine if it was as 
empty as it seemed. And yet, as he disap- 
peared in the doorway, for door there was 
none, a sudden thought came to Leslie. “ He 
may need help,” he muttered, and sprang from 
his horse. 

He had hardly done so, and, with his bridle 


i86 The Chase of an Heiress 


in his hand, taken a few steps toward the door, 
when Ramon reappeared, his face, as the 
moonlight shone upon it, ghastly pale. 

“ Come! ’’ he said, quickly, as his glance fell 
on Leslie. “ The man is here, — wounded.” 




CHAPTER XII 

AT THE FOOT OF THE CORDILLERA 

L eslie delayed only a moment, to repeat 
to the others what had been said, and to 
add in imperative aside to Mr. Chesney, 
“ Don’t allow Miss Chesney to enter,” before 
he hurried into the house. 

Its interior seemed to him so dark, although 
the brilliant moonlight was pouring in through 
chinks and crevices of the rude walls as well as 
through the wide, empty doorway, that he 
could not at first distinguish anything. But 
a groan guided his steps, and the next moment 
he was standing by a man’s prostrate form, 
which lay extended on the earthen floor. 

“What is the matter?” he demanded, 
sternly. “ How are you hurt ? ” 

The man ceased groaning to utter an aston- 
ished oath. “Who are you?” he asked. 
187 


1 88 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ What is a white man doing in this infernal 
place 

“ Never mind who I am [more sternly]. 
How are you hurt ? ” 

“I ’m stabbed — killed, likely — by a she- 
devil! She ’s my murderess, if I die. Re- 
member that.” 

” You ’ll die now, this instant, if she has 
been harmed ! ” cried Ramon, fiercely. “Where 
is she ? ’ ’ 

“ She 's gone, curse her! ” was the reply. 
“ She stabbed me, and then, taking the horses, 
made off, leaving me to die. She is my 
murderess, I tell you. Her name is Felisa 
Ancram.” 

“We know perfectly well who she is — and 
who you are,” said Leslie, coolly, restraining 
Ramon by a strong hand on his arm. “We 
are here, a party of us,” — Don Mariano had 
now entered, — “ in order to take her out of 
your hands. We have been following you all 
day, and it is on the whole a good thing for 
you that you are found in a helpless condition. 
But be sure of one thing,” — his voice again 
grew sternly significant, — “ your helplessness 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 189 


will not serve you to escape your deserts if 
Felisa Ancram has suffered the least injury at 
your hands.” 

” She suffer injury at my hands! ” cried the 
man, in a tone of mingled rage and fear. ” It 
is just the other way. /am injured — murdered, 
perhaps — by her, and only because I tried to 
kiss her. As if a man had n’t a right to kiss 
the girl who was running away with him ! ” 

” We will take your statement for what it is 
worth until we find the young lady,” said 
Leslie. ”It will not be well for you then if it does 
not agree with hers. Now, as a matter of human- 
ity, I suppose we must look after your wound. ’ ’ 
He turned to Ramon, but Ramon was talk- 
ing to Don Mariano, pouring forth in Spanish 
a recital of what the man had said, and, seeing 
that there was no assistance to be hoped for in 
that quarter, he went outside, where Mr. and 
Miss Chesney, having dismounted, were stand- 
ing in the moonlight, holding their horses. 

” Oh, here is Mr. Leslie,” cried the young 
lady, in a tone of eagerness, as he appeared. 
” Now we shall know what this means.” 

He could not but smile as he went up to her. 


1 9° The Chase of an Heiress 


“ It means,” he said, ” that the astonishing 
Felisa has developed a new rdle. She has 
stabbed the man with whom she eloped, left 
him with perfect nonchalance, taken the horses, 
and continued her journey alone.” 

“What!” exclaimed Mr. Chesney, while 
his daughter cried incredulously, “It is 
impossible ! ” 

“The man is in this hut,” Leslie replied; 
“ stabbed — dangerously, he thinks — by this 
gentle young lady, for no other reason, he 
says, than that he attempted to kiss her.” 

“ Mr. Leslie! you don’t believe it ? ” 

“It is very likely that he lies,” returned 
Leslie, coolly, “ but equally probable that he 
is telling the truth. I confess I am ready to 
believe anything of my interesting heiress. At 
all events, we must accept his statement until 
she contradicts it. And meanwhile we are 
bound to look after his wound, helpless as he 
is in our hands.” 

I suppose so,” the young lady agreed, 
“ although I am perfectly sure that he has only 
got what he deserved. Have you examined 
the wound at all ? ” 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 191 


“ Certainly not: how could I, in that dark 
place ? 

“ You must bring him outside,” said Mr. 
Chesney. ” This moonlight is brilliant enough 
for any purpose, and I will examine him. The 
necessities of life have taught me a little surgi- 
cal knowledge, and we never travel without 
simple aids in case of accident — eh, Kather- 
ine ? ” 

” Certainly not, papa. I have a roll of sur- 
geon’s plaster; but it is in my bag, and that is 
not here yet.” 

” It will come in time, perhaps. Meanwhile 
we ’ll see how he is hurt, and improvise some 
bandages.” 

” I ’m rather afraid of moving him,” said 
Leslie, hesitatingly. “If he is badly hurt, 
the danger of bleeding would be great, you 
know. And yet to do anything for him with- 
out light is impossible.” 

“ So impossible that we must risk it,” said 
Mr. Chesney, entering the house. 

The moment after he and Leslie had gone 
in, Ramon stalked out, indignation on his 
handsome young face. 


192 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ Do you know,” he said, walking up to 
Miss Chesney, ” that they are going to doctor 
that scoundrel — tie up his wound — I don’t 
know what not — while what he deserves is to 
be left to die like a dog! ” 

” He deserves it, perhaps,” she replied, 
” but one must consider humanity even in the 
case of a scoundrel, you know. And we must 
also remember,” she added, for the young 
man’s pale, fierce face rather frightened her, 
” that Felisa went with him of her own will, 
and that she seems to have punished him 
severely for a very trifling offence.” 

” That is his story. How do we know that 
it is true ? ” said he. “Not that I think her 
to blame if it is true. She was right, — quite 
right.” 

“ Well, right or wrong,” pursued Miss 
Chesney, “ it will be awkward for her if the 
man dies. So, for her sake, you see, we must 
try to save his life.” 

“ Awkward for her ? — not at all,” said Ra- 
mon. “ Do you think anyone would blame her, 
for defending herself ? There is not a man in 
Santo Domingo that would not applaud her.” 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 193 


“ Perhaps so, but — er — you must remember 
that it was her own fault that she was in the 
position on which the man presumed.’’ 

“If he were worth calling a man [very 
hotly], he would have felt bound to treat her 
with more respect because she had trusted 
herself to him.’’ 

“You are a dear, chivalrous boy,’’ said Miss 
Chesney, patting him on the arm as if she had 
been his mother, “ and your sentiments are 
those of a paladin. But it will not do, it really 
will not do, for a woman to fancy that men in 
general are paladins. That, I suppose, was 
your Felisa’s mistake. But here comes the 
man who has suffered for it — and for his own. 
Poor wretch! he looks half dead.’’ 

“ From fear of death! ’’ said Ramon, scorn- 
fully. 

And indeed fear of death had a great deal to 
do with Mr. Stanford’s condition, as the ex- 
amination of his wound soon proved. It had 
been inflicted by a small, keen dagger, which, 
instead of penetrating the heart, as it might 
have done had the blow been dealt by a stronger 

and more practised hand, had, happily for him, 
13 


194 The Chase of an Heiress 


glanced from the rib, and made only a deep 
and painful flesh-wound, which had bled pro- 
fusely, but was not in itself dangerous, Mr. 
Chesney declared. The man with the bag 
came up while the examination was in progress, 
so that the plaster was produced, handkerchiefs 
were used as bandages, and the wound was 
not unskilfully bound up. The patient was 
then propped against a tree, given a stimulant 
to revive him, for he was faint from loss of 
blood, and sternly bidden to give a full and 
(if he were wise) truthful account of his late 
proceedings. 

On the degree of his astonishment, the in- 
tensity of his mortification, when he recognised 
the familiar faces of his late fellow-voyagers, 
Leslie and the Chesneys, in this hostile party 
which had so unexpectedly overtaken him, it 
is not necessary to dwell. The humiliation of 
his position, the complete failure of his bold 
stroke for securing possession of a great for- 
tune, made him furious; and at first he refused 
to speak, taking refuge in sullenness and pre- 
tended weakness. But a few forcible words 
from Leslie were sufficient to unclose his lips. 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 195 


“ See here,” said that gentleman. “ As I 
have already told you, we have no intention 
of adding to the injury which you have — very 
justly, I am sure — received from Dofla Felisa, 
until we hear whether or not she corroborates 
your account. Until we find her, you are safe, 
and if when we find her your story proves to 
be true, we will let you go — with the contempt 
you have merited. But meanwhile it appears 
to me that you are dependent upon us for 
everything. We have found you here without 
any means of getting away or even of sustain- 
ing life, and, if you do not desire that we 
leave you in the same condition, it will be 
well for you to tell us what we want to 
know.” 

” What is that ? ” asked the other, opening 
his eyes with a glance which matched the snarl 
of his voice. 

” In the first place [very suavely], how did 
you discover that the young lady was so well 
worth carrying off ? ” 

” Was there any mystery in that ? How did 
you discover it ? As for me, I was sent here 
to find the Ancram heirs. Since you know all 


196 The Chase of an Heiress 


about it, I suppose you are on the same 
errand.” 

” We are not at present discussing my busi- 
ness. Kindly inform us who sent you here to 
find the Ancram heirs.” 

” A person who had a right to send me.” 

” Anyone, I presume, has that right. The 
question is not of right, but of interest. Was 
it someone who was interested in their not 
being found ? ” 

” What is the use of beating about the 
bush ?” replied the other, impatiently. ” Of 
course it was Miss Harrison : who else had any 
interest in the matter ? I am a distant cousin 
of hers, and she sent me to look for the miss- 
ing heirs, with instructions to find means to 
convey them to some place where they 
would not be likely to hear of the search for 
them.” 

Leslie looked at Miss Chesney, who was 
seated somewhat in the background, but near 
enough to hear all that was said. There was 
a smile in his eyes, which she understood to 
be a recognition of the accuracy with which 
she had divined the nature of this man’s errand 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 197 


to the island. Then he glanced back at the 
speaker, amused, contemptuous. 

“And were you, in accordance with your in- 
structions, intending to convey the heiress of 
the Ancram fortune where she would never be 
likely to hear of that fortune, when you in- 
duced her to leave her home ? “ he asked. 

“ Am I likely to have been such a fool ? “ 
returned the other, shortly. “ When I found 
the heirs resolved into one girl, of course 
I made up my mind at once to throw over 
Miss Harrison's interest and look out for my 
own. My plan was to get hold of her before 
she heard the news, and marry her offhand. 
For all practical purposes the fortune would 
then have been mine. I should n't have been 
in such haste, I should have gone to work 
more slowly, only I did n't know what day 
would bring the news. I never suspected you 
had it, or I might have acted differently.'' 

“ I don't really see that you could have 
acted with a more single regard for your own 
interest, or with more energy in attempting to 
secure it, if you had known,'' remarked Leslie, 
calmly. “ Your failure seems to lie in the fact 


198 The Chase of an Heiress 


that you were thinking too much of the for- 
tune to give sufficient attention to the character 
of the woman with whom you had to deal. 
Now tell us how you induced her to elope with 
you. Did you make love to her ? ” 

“No. As soon as I began that I saw it 
would n’t do. But I also saw that she was in 
a state of mind which made it easy to work 
upon her by other means. She was discon- 
tented with her life, recklessly anxious to es- 
cape from it, and so angry, when I first met 
her, with somebody or something’’ — Ramon 
could not restrain a motion which drew Miss 
Chesney’s compassionate glance to him — 
“ that she was as easy to influence and as blind 
to consequences as a child. I introduced my- 
self to her as an old friend of her father’s, you 
know — or he knows [a gesture toward Don 
Mariano], and this made it easy to gain her 
confidence. She told me she had a plan of 
running away and going to the States, asked 
my advice, and wanted to know if I thought 
she could support herself after she reached 
there. Of course I encouraged her, offered 
to help her, told her I would take her over to 


At the Foot of the Cordillera 199 


Samand, where we could catch the steamer for 
New York. Nothing was said of final results, 
but it never entered my mind that any woman 
could be such a fool as not to know what she 
commits herself to when she runs away with a 
man. But I am bound to believe that she 
either did n’t know or did n’t care. At all 
events, she just meant to make use of me, and 
that was all. Well, we got off early, as you 
probably know, and rode all day, but the 
horses were such wretched brutes that it was 
late in the afternoon when we reached this 
place. It was necessary to rest for a while, 
and I was for staying here all night, — I never 
thought of pursuit, — but she would n’t hear of 
it, insisted that we should go on, and finally 
carried her point. I agreed to go on, but said 
I must have a kiss in payment. She refused. I 
caught hold of her, and quick as lightning 
she had out a knife and stabbed me. I thought 
I was done for, — I bled like an ox, — but much 
she cared ! She got on her horse, put the boy 
on mine, and rode off, without caring whether 
I lived or died. She ’s a devil, I tell you— a 
regular devil ! ” 


200 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ She is a brave girl, who knows how to 
treat a brute like you,” cried Ramon. ” If 
you speak of her again except with respect, 
you will answer to me, wounded or not.” 

Stanford gave him an evil look, but did not 
otherwise notice his speech, continuing to 
address himself to Leslie. 

” Now you have the whole story, and I hope 
your curiosity is satisfied. If I die of this 
wound, — and it 's more than probable in this 

d d climate, — I want it understood again 

that it was deliberate murder.” ^ 

” You will not die,” said Mr. Chesney, 
” unless inflammation sets in to an uncommon 
degree. But you will not be able to ride for 
several days.” 

” Then what the devil ain I to do ? Stay 
here and starve in this hole in the wilderness? ” 
We will decide what to do with you be- 
fore we go on,” said Leslie. ” Meanwhile,” 
— he rose as he spoke, — ” I am sure we all 
stand in need of immediate refreshment in the 
form of supper.” 



CHAPTER XIII 

A JEST THAT WOUNDS 

H alf an hour later Katherine Chesney said 
to herself that she should never forget 
the scene before her, never cease to congratu- 
late herself upon the fortunate chance which 
had enabled her to witness it. 

Certainly nothing could be imagined more 
romantically picturesque than her immediate 
surroundings. Supper over, she had with- 
drawn a little from the group of men — who 
still remained in easy attitudes, most of them 
smoking, near the fire which had been kindled 
for making the coffee — and regarded the whole 
picture with an artist’s eye for effect, delight- 
ing in every detail of its wild beauty. The 
great cordillera, at the foot of which they were 
encamped, rose in towering majesty above 
them, its vast, deeply furrowed sides covered 


201 


202 The Chase of an Heiress 


with impenetrable forest, from which came 
wafted all those aromatic odours of tropical 
growths which the land-breeze carries far out 
to sea, to fill the mind of the traveller in some 
wave-cradled ship with visions of these green 
gorges, filled with luxuriant vegetation and 
with the eternal melody of falling, flashing 
waters. Some of these waters were even now 
pouring close beside her over the rocks which 
strove to bar their course, falling in fairy cata- 
racts and filling the solitude with their silvery 
song. Encompassing the open spot where the 
hut stood, the horses were tethered, and the fire 
blazed, were the woods, with all their varied 
verdure, their climbing vines and parasites. 
The broad flood of silver moonlight falling over 
these, and shining on the remote, mysterious, 
solemn heights of the great mountains, thrilled 
like music through the sensitive appreciation 
of the woman regarding it. She forgot the 
drama which had amused and interested her in 
this adventure — the passionate, undeveloped 
girl, with her beautiful stormy face, the com- 
monplace mercenary schemer who had so un- 
expectedly touched a point of tragedy — in the 


A Jest that Wounds 203 

deeper thought, the deeper emotion, roused by 
this penetrating charm of Nature in her wildest, 
freshest form. 

Presently there was a stir of the party around 
the fire. The servant who had been hanging 
the hammocks — two within the hut for Mr. 
and Miss Chesney, and the rest to the boughs 
of trees without — had now finished his work, 
and it was necessary to place the injured 
Stanford in that which was allotted to him. 
This having been accomplished, Leslie strolled 
over to where Miss Chesney was seated at the 
foot of a tall palm-tree, her hands clasped 
around her knees in meditative attitude. 

Is this romantic enough to satisfy you ? " 
he asked, divining her mood, as he came up to 
her with a smile. “ Or would you like things 
more unconventional, more adventurous still ?” 

“ I could not wish — I could not imagine — 
anything more beautiful than this,” she an- 
swered, indicating with a gesture the picture 
before them. ” I cannot tell you how much I 
am indebted to you for being the providence 
which has brought me here.” 

” Oh, as for that,” — he sat down beside her. 


204 The Chase of an Heiress 


— “ the indebtedness is all the other way. 
Your presence makes this excursion delightful, 
which otherwise would be a very tiresome and 
annoying experience indeed." 

" I don’t see how it could possibly be that 
under any circumstances, it is so full of dra- 
matic surprises." 

He shrugged his shoulders. " I am afraid 
that I don’t enjoy dramatic surprises, — espe- 
cially in the form of a wounded man whom, 
owing to his wound, one can’t kick as one 
would like to, and a runaway young lady with 
a dagger for luggage." 

" I have taken Felisa back into my good 
opinion," said Miss Chesney, calmly. " She 
is a fool, of course, — an absolute fool, — but 
she never meant to run away with that man in 
the manner we imagined. So much is clear 
from his story." 

" Then it is flattery to call her a fool: she 
must be an idiot," said Leslie, " and even 
more of a tigress than I imagined. ‘A regular 
devil,’ as that fellow yonder so feelingly 
declared." 

Miss Chesney laughed. " Was not his rage 


A Jest that Wounds 


205 


amusing ? One could see how she turned on 
him with blazing eyes and whipped out that 
dagger. Oh, I like her; say what you will, I 
like her. She is so very unconventional.” 

“ Well, yes, decidedly unconventional,” 
Leslie agreed. ” To run away with a man 
after two days’ acquaintance, stab him on 
somewhat slight provocation, and then ride 
off, leaving him probably to die alone, is some- 
what out of the line of ordinary conventional- 
ity, one must admit. As for how admirable it 
may be ” 

” Oh, I said nothing about her conduct 
being admirable.^ But she is interesting: one 
likes to speculate on what she will do next. 
Has anybody the least idea where she has 
gone ? ” 

“Not the least. But after we have crossed 
the mountains to-morrow we shall begin to in- 
quire for an errant damsel, attended by a small 
boy. She may still intend to sail for New 
York from Sanchez.” 

“ But if she has no money ? ” 

“ That is an immaterial point to one whose 
knowledge of the world appears so extensive. 


2o 6 The Chase of an Heiress 


And, as we are aware, it will not be a difficulty 
to hamper her long.” 

“ Certainly not. But think of five millions 
in the hands of such a child ! What do you 
suppose she will do with it ? ” 

” The question rather is, what will she 
not do with it ? But for some years, you 
know, she must have a guardian : she is only 
seventeen.” 

” Perhaps you will be the guardian.” 

” No, thank heaven. IVfy duties in connec- 
tion with her will be over when I have commu- 
nicated the news of her inheritance.” 

” Don’t flatter yourself that they will be 
anything of the kind. She will then elect you 
her knight, and place herself under your pro- 
tection to be conveyed to the States.” 

” Not if I know myself ! [With energy.] 
Nothing would induce me to take charge of 
her for an hour.” 

I am astonished at you,” said Miss Ches- 
ney, laughing. ” Your lack of a sense of duty, 
and of the opportunity opening before you, is 
most reprehensible. Fate has arranged things 
perfectly for you, if you would only take ad- 


A Jest that Wounds 


207 


vantage of them. Here is this wild, beautiful 
creature, who has quarrelled with her lover, 
flung off the control of her guardians, and 
baffled the man who thought he had entrapped 
her, ready to pass into your hands, and you 
will have none of her! What can I say to 
rouse you to a sense of the possibilities of the 
situation ? ” 

I really think,’' he replied quietly, “ that 
you have said enough to indicate certain things 
which there is no necessity to make plainer. 
There is no necessity, for example, to prove 
more conclusively than you have proved already 
that you do not consider me capable of filling 
any better role in life than that of a fortune- 
hunter. It is true ’ ’ — he shrugged his shoulders 
— “ that I have done nothing to deserve a very 
high opinion from you, that my life, so far, is 
a distinct failure, yet I am not aware that I 
have given you reason to regard me in quite 
such a despicable light as you evidently 
do. ” 

She turned her head, to look at him with 
quick surprise. The pain and anger percept- 
ible in his tone were also plainly to be read in 


2o 8 . The Chase of an Heiress 


his face. Evidently her careless words had 
carried a sting which she had been far from 
intending. 

“ Since when have you grown so obtuse that 
one cannot venture to jest with you ?” she 
asked, still trying to speak lightly. 

“ There are jests which indicate things of 
deep earnestness,” he answered. ” From you 
— but why should I say what power to wound 
you possess. You know it well, and, like a 
true woman, use it remorselessly.” 

” Are you, too, jesting, or must I consider 
those words as ‘ of deep earnestness’ ?” she 
inquired. ” I don’t want to prove myself 
either obtuse or susceptible, but really that 
charge is very serious — if meant seriously.” 

” It is meant seriously,” he replied. ” You 
certainly cannot deny that you know your 
power, as far as I am concerned, and neither 
can you deny -that you use it ” 

” Remorselessly ? ” [as he paused]. 

“Yes, I must repeat the word, remorse- 
lessly.” 

There was a moment’s silence. Then a per- 
ceptible chill — in fact, several degrees of frost 


A Jest that Wounds 209 


— crept into the atmosphere in the tone of 
Miss Chesney’s next words. 

If the matter were of sufficient importance, 
I might ask you to be good enough to prove a 
charge which is not only serious but wholly 
undeserved," she said with crisp haughtiness. 

I distinctly deny that I am aware of possess- 
ing any power as far as you are concerned, or 
of using it remorselessly. But one thing at 
least you have made plain to me, that if I am 
wise I will jest with you no more on the sub- 
ject of the heiress, or indeed on any other 
subject. And I may also add the assurance 
that nothing is of less interest to me than the 
question whether you are or are not likely under 
any circumstances to become a fortune-hunter.” 

“ I never imagined that the question in- 
terested you," he replied with undisguised 
bitterness. " But indifference is not an excuse 
for injustice." 

" The injustice is on your side," she de- 
clared, with a flash of temper. "You have no 
right to make such charges against me. They 
are shamefully unjust, and — and very rude 
besides." 


210 The Chase of an Heiress 

“ For the last I humbly beg pardon,” he 
responded in a tone as little humble as possible. 
” In future I will endeavour to avoid both in- 
justice and rudeness by also carefully avoiding 
any personal discussion.” 

” It will certainly be best,” she said, coldly. 

And indeed the conversation had now 
reached a point and taken a tone on both 
sides which seemed on the surface difficult to 
explain. As a general rule, two people do not 
pass in a moment from extreme friendliness to 
extreme exasperation unless there is some un- 
derlying cause for the last. But when such 
underlying causes exist they have a great power 
of forcing themselves into notice at the most 
unexpected times, and on the most trivial pro- 
vocation. Something of the kind had now 
occurred here, to end the pleasant intercourse 
of these two old friends, to darken the idyllic 
beauty of the scene, and change their sense of 
delightful companionship into one of wounded 
bitterness. 

It was a relief to both that the approach of 
Ramon at this moment ended their tete-a-tHe^ 
and for the rest of the evening each ignored 


A Jest that Wounds 


21 1 


the other. It was only after Miss Chesney had 
finally withdrawn to her hammock within the 
hut that Leslie returned to seat himself again 
at the foot of the palm-tree where she had 
made, he thought, so charming a picture, and, 
while he smoked a pipe, not of peace, to gaze 
at the serene majesty of the great cordillera 
and meditate on the text that all men are fools, 
— especially when they chance to be in love. 




CHAPTER XIV 

ACROSS THE WIDOW’S PASS 
HE little camp was astir at the first break 



1 of the beautiful tropical dawn the next 
morning. It had been decided, after much 
consultation the night before, that the servant 
should be left with Stanford, since the party 
could reach Sanchez before the next night, 
and would not therefore need the camping out- 
fit which he carried. In order to accomplish 
this, however, an early start was necessary, 
with some rearrangement of saddles, so that 
each rider might carry his own special luggage 
and a small amount of food for a noonday 


meal. 


In these arrangements Miss Chesney proved 
herself at once active and capable, her sugges- 
tions being excellent and her assistance ener- 
getic. Leslie, conscious of a change in her 


212 


Across the Widow’s Pass 213 


manner toward himself, — a certain stiffening 
and constraint, so slight that only a sensitive 
consciousness would have been aware of it — 
made no attempt to claim his place of the day 
before by her side, but, leaving that to Ramon, 
rode soberly behind with Mr. Chesney and Don 
Mariano. 

Progress was soon resolved into a slow, 
laborious, upward climb in single file along 
trails to which the name of roads could be ap- 
plied only in mockery. They were now in 
that narrow defile of the mountains which is 
the chief — almost the only — pass between the 
north and south sides of the island, and which 
is of the utmost strategic importance, since a 
mere handful of men could here successfully 
dispute the passage of an army. The path, if 
path it could be called, which they followed, 
lay along the sides of the great heights tower- 
ing above them, covered with dense forest, 
while below one deep ravine after another 
opened its green, verdure-filled gulf. Higher 
and higher they climbed, up ascents so steep 
that it was necessary to clutch the manes, even 
to embrace the necks of the horses, to avoid 


2 14 The Chase of an Heiress 


slipping backward ; and it was onl}^ when they 
paused to rest the panting animals that they 
could take in the world of beauty lying around 
them on these vast, untrodden hills. Drenched 
with almost perpetual moisture from the clouds 
which the deep breast of the ocean sends to 
kiss their lofty summits, these majestic heights, 
the birthplaces of unnumbered streams, are 
covered with such wonders of tropic growth, 
such indescribable variety of trees, ferns, vines, 
and plants as might set a botanist wild. But 
to gasp out a few breathless ejaculations of ad- 
miration and delight was all that was possible 
in these brief halts, then to press forward again 
for the summit of the range, which lay still 
above them. Now and then white mists closed 
over their path, dissolving away presently in 
exquisite wreaths of vapour trailing through 
the green lacery of the tree-ferns, which are 
the loveliest of all the creations of Nature in 
these marvellous regions. 

Finally, after a time devoted to this climb- 
ing toil, which seemed longer than it really was 
and yet was long enough to contain much pos- 
sibility of fatigue, they gained the last height 


Across the Widow’s Pass 215 

and stood upon the summit of the Silldn de la 
Viuda. 

And then what a scene was before them! 
The great mountain heart of the island lay 
open to their gaze, a world of towering, beau- 
tiful forms, with the noble Yaqui peak looming 
majestically grand, yet soft and fair as a height 
of heaven, in the remote distance, while far 
below spread in its eternal beauty, its inex- 
haustible fertility, the Royal Plain of Colum- 
bus. 

“ Oh, wonderful, wonderful! How glad I 
am to be here! " was all Katherine Chesney 
could say, as her enraptured glance swept the 
vast picture. In the immediate foreground a 
sea of verdure covered the steep sides of the 
mountain shelving downward from the summit 
on which they stood, the magnificent fronds of 
palms and the wide satin leaves of wild plant- 
ains asserting themselves amid all the mass of 
mingled greenery. In many a waving line the 
great ridges trended away, falling in lesser hills 
down to the breadths of savanna that rolled to 
the yet more distant mountains which, robed 
in every shade of colour, from deepest violet 


2i 6 The Chase of an Heiress 


to faintest, most ethereal azure, receded into a 
hazy eternity, their highest summits hid away 
in sun-tinted masses of soft white clouds. 

“ It is a glorious picture,” said Leslie, who 
found himself irresistibly attracted to Miss 
Chesney’s side when the party halted. “ I 
have seen many mountain views, but never 
before one so fine.” 

” It is like a dream of paradise,” said she, 
sighing softly as from excess of pleasure. 

Description can give no idea of it — at least 
the descriptions I have read did not prepare 
me for anything half so beautiful. But how is 
it ” — she turned to Ramon — ” that this is the 
Vega Real of Columbus, when we know that 
he gave that name to the country which he saw 
from the Monte Cristo Mountains, as he crossed 
over them from Isabella by the Puerto de los 
Hidalgos ? ’ ’ 

The young man smiled. “You are very 
well acquainted with the history of Santo Do- 
mingo, sefiorita,” he said. “ The name which 
Columbus bestowed is applied to a much 
greater extent of country than he saw at the 
time he gave it, because the great plain which 


Across the Widow’s Pass 217 


SO delighted his eyes is really a vast valley, 
or succession of valleys, lying between the two 
mountain ranges — this on which we stand and 
the Monte Cristo heights — and extending for a 
hundred and fifty miles through the heart of 
the island.” 

“If you had gathered your facts more at- 
tentively, you would know all that, Kather- 
ine,” said Mr. Chesney, in a tone of rebuke. 

But, as I have often told you, you think 
only of the romantic side of historical events. 
Your fancy was pleased v/ith the picture of 
Columbus and his band of gentlemen breaking 
a way over the mountains, and of the great 
Discoverer giving a name to this truly royal 
plain, but you never thought to settle its geo- 
graphical limits in your mind, or to consider 
that it might be different parts of the same 
valley which he saw from the Puerto de los 
Hidalgos and we see to-day from the Silldn de 
la ViudaP 

“ I suppose I must plead guilty again, papa, 
as I have pleaded guilty often before, to having 
more taste for the picturesque than the practi- 
cal,” Katherine answered, laughing. “ But, 


2i 8 The Chase of an Heiress 


whether or not Columbus ever saw this part of 
his Vega Real no one can deny that he named 
it admirably. It is royally beautiful. " 

“ And as fertile as it is beautiful,” said 
Ramon. ” In fact there are no limits to its 
fertility, but it is almost as much of a wilder- 
ness to-day as when Columbus discovered it.” 

” If one did not know it to be a fact, one 
would think it incredible,” said Mr. Chesney, 
” that here below us are thousands and thou- 
sands of leagues of land -absolutely unsurpassed 
in capability of production, yet almost entirely 
given over to wild, uncultivated nature. I 
doubt if there is a parallel for such neglected 
opportunities in any other part of the world.” 

” Again, it is necessary to remember the 
terrible history of the island in order to under- 
stand it,” said his daughter. 

Mr. Chesney shrugged his shoulders. 
” Even that history is no excuse for it,” he 
observed. ” But we may be sure of one 
thing, that what Santo Domingo is, Cuba will 
become if she is so unfortunate as to be given, 
like this unhappy island, into the hands of an 
incapable hybrid population. — But we cannot 


Across the Widow’s Pass 219 


remain here all day admiring the view. Where 
do we go from here ? ” 

Don Mariano, to whom the question was 
addressed, divined its meaning and pointed 
northward where, in the midst of blue, hazy 
distance, one point glittered like a jewel in the 
sunshine. “ Samand, " he said, briefly. 

“ So yonder is the bay of Samand,” said 
Mr. Chesney, following the gesture with his 
glance. “ We are much nearer to it than I im- 
agined. But can we hope to reach it to-day ? ” 
“ Not to-day,'' Ramon answered. “ Don 
Mariano expects to go to-day to the estancia 
of a man named Severino Garcia, whom he 
once employed, and where he has little doubt 
that Felisa has made her way." 

" Vamonos/** cried Don Mariano, waving 
his hand and riding forward. And, with a 
last glance over the far-stretching prospect, 
the party followed him. 

Perhaps it was the indescribable beauty of 
their surroundings, or the equally indescrib- 
able badness of the road, which caused Miss 
Chesney and Leslie to resume their relations 
of comradeship as they descended the Cordil- 


220 The Chase of an Heiress 


lera. Certainly both were potent reasons. At 
one moment they were pointing out to each 
other the green gulfs opening below their 
path, filled with tropical foliage and the white 
spray of falling waters ; the next Leslie was on 
foot and, despite Miss Chesney’s protests, 
leading her horse over some spot where a 
single misstep would have sent horse and 
rider crashing down to destruction, hundreds 
of feet below. 

And, although less dangerous, the road was 
scarcely better when, the descent of the mount- 
ain having been accomplished, they found 
themselves in the valley. Their way still lay 
through forest, wild, green, marvellous in its 
beauty, but the narrow path they followed was 
little better than a quagmire. Floundering 
and splashing through deep mud, their pro- 
gress was slow, until presently they emerged 
from the forest to a wide, grassy plain, set 
with royal palms and bounded by the mighty 
hills. Here a sweeping gallop enabled them 
to cover some distance in a satisfactory man- 
ner, and brought Miss Chesney and Leslie into 
still more renewed sympathy, for each was 


Across the Widow’s Pass 221 


conscious of a sense of delightful companion- 
ship in the enjoyment of these fair scenes, 
where they almost fancied themselves ex- 
plorers and discoverers of a virgin land. 

It was an ideal spot where they presently 
halted for their noon refreshment, on the bank 
of a crystal stream which came pouring over 
mossy rocks, under the overarching shade of 
luxuriant verdure, and where flowering vines 
climbed, and orchids of the most exquisite 
varieties bloomed in the green obscurity. 
Again Miss Chesney uttered a sigh expressive 
of a pleasure so intense as to be almost akin to 
pain. 

“It is really too enchanting! “ she said to 
Leslie, as they sat side by side in this wonder- 
ful retreat. “ Nature overwhelms us with 
more than we can possibly appreciate or enjoy. 
But I shall never forget these fairy places, and 
I owe Felisa a debt of gratitude for having led 
us into them.” 

“ We certainly owe her a great deal,” Leslie 
agreed with perfect sincerity. “ For myself, 
I confess that I could with pleasure go on 
chasing her indefinitely. My only fear now is 


222 The Chase of an Heiress 


that she will permit herself to be run to earth 
too soon.” 

” I am afraid papa’s patience would not hold 
out if the chase were very much prolonged,” 
said Miss Chesney, doubtfully, ” else I should 
hope that she would keep on flitting before us 
like a will-o’-the-wisp until — well, at least until 
we had explored the Vega Real from end to 
end.” 

” Why not do that anyway ? There is a 
railroad from Sanchez, at the head of Samand 
Bay, to La Vega, and when we have found and 
disposed of our vagrant heiress we might make 
an agreeable little journey to the latter place. 
You know so much more about the island than 
I do that I need not tell you what La Vega 
is.” 

” Oh, I know perfectly well,” she replied. 

It is one of the most interesting places in the 
island, near the site of the old city of Concep- 
tion de la Vega, where Columbus erected a 
fort, and the Santo Cerro, or Holy Hill, where 
a miracle occ-urred at the time of the invasion. 
Yes, I should like very much to go there. We 
must endeavour to persuade papa to do so. 


Across the Widow’s Pass 223 


Anything ought to seem easy after we have 
crossed the great mountain-range which is the 
backbone of the island. But will our chase, 
do you think, lead us as far as Sanchez ? ” 
“We are very near Sanchez now, and in 
any event it will be well to go there. — But — 
hallo! who on earth is this ? “ 

Miss Chesney looked around, and saw a man 
who, riding one horse and leading another, 
drew up on the opposite bank of the stream 
for an instant, then with evident recognition 
splashed eagerly across it. 

“ Don Mariano! “ exclaimed the newcomer. 
“ Severino! “ ejaculated Don Mariano. And 
then burst forth a torrent of words from both, 
into which Ramon Herresdorf flung himself, as 
it were, with an excited interest which made 
Leslie say: 

“ That fellow must have news of Felisa.“ 

“ He has," Katherine answered. “ I hear 
her name mentioned, but they speak so fast I 
can understand very little of what they say. 

I think, however, that he has seen her." 

“ No wonder you cannot understand them," 
said Leslie, disgustedly. “ Did anyone ever 


224 The Chase of an Heiress 


hear such a flood of talk ? Why can’t they 
talk with some kind of moderation! ” 

“ I believe,” said Miss Chesney, after a mo- 
ment or two of further listening, ” that he is 
taking Mr. Stanford’s horse back to him.” 

” Indeed! The fair Felisa, then, absolutely 
considered what was to become of the man — 
in case he survived her attack. One begins to 
have hopes of her.” 

” Here is one who has seen Felisa, seflorita,” 
said Ramon, suddenly coming up to them. 
His face was all aglow with excitement, his 
dark eyes shone. ” This man, who is a very 
good and honest man, formerly worked for 
Don Mariano, but now lives on his own land 
across the mountains. To his house Felisa 
went last night, and she induced him to start 
early this morning to cross the pass and see 
after the man she had left. That is his horse 
he is taking to him.” 

” I understood as much,” said Miss Ches- 
ney. ” And where is Felisa ? — at this man’s 
house ? ” 

” Alas, no. She left at the same time as he 
did, and has gone to Samand, where she has 


Across the Widow’s Pass 225 

some friends. It will be necessary to seek her 
there.” 

” At least it is well to know definitely 
where she is, and not to have to wander over 
the country inquiring for her,” Leslie re- 
marked. 

” Yes,” Ramon agreed, ” that is well. And 
it is also very well to know that she is safe, 
and that the wife of this man, Severino Garcia, 
is accompanying her. And Don Mariano is 
acquainted with the people to whom she goes, 
— humble people, but good.” 

‘ ‘ So much the better, ’ ' said Leslie. ‘ ‘ When 
the transformation scene occurs and Cinderella 
is changed once for all into a princess, we want 
the setting of the scene to be as effective as 
possible. The humble but good people little 
guess what an angel they are entertaining un- 
awares. ’ ’ 

” They would treat her no better if they 
did, seflor,” said Ramon, a little proudly. 

” I have no doubt of that,” replied Leslie, 
kindly. ” And if she has any wisdom, this 
Felisa of yours, she will value above all her 
gold these hearts which have given her what 


226 The Chase of an Heiress 


she can never in her life be sure of again, — 
faithful and disinterested affection." 

The young man looked at him a little wist- 
fully. " It seems to me," he said, " that the 
first person whom this money is to test is Felisa 
herself, — to prove how much or how little she 
values the affection of which you speak." 




CHAPTER XV 

ON THE SHORES OF SAMANA 

I T is impossible for imagination to conceive 
anything more idyllic in beauty than the 
shores of Samand Bay. No one who has ever 
rounded the majestic granite mass of Balandra 
Head and sailed up the shining waters of this 
magnificent gulf, the finest in America, can 
forget the enchanting pictures which the long 
line of coast presents, from the great Morne 
Diablo, with its terraced sea-front of red cliff, 
at the base of which the waves eternally break, 
and its forest-clad height receding into the 
clouds, to where the peninsula ends at the 
Gran Estero. Perhaps the loveliest of these 
pictures is the beautiful harbour of Samand 
proper, or Santa Barbara, guarded by its fairy 
islets, — masses of rock covered with richest, 
most luxuriant verdure, rising out of and re- 


227 


228 The Chase of an Heiress 


fleeted in the crystal water; but the entire 
coast for thirty miles presents a constant suc- 
cession of bold green hills, covered to their 
summits with tropical foliage, sloping down 
into charming valleys, and to exquisite bights 
indented in the shore — miniature bays Avhere 
the rippling waves flash softly on crescents of 
glistening white sand, fringed by royal palms. 
“ It is Paradise found again ! " cried Columbus, 
when he first looked on this entrancing beauty ; 
and no one can look on it to-day, unchanged 
as it is in any essential respect, without echoing 
the cry. 

But on the opposite side of the bay the 
scenery is somewhat different in character. 
The traveller from the deck of his steamer, 
gazing across leagues of shimmering water, sees 
only a blue, misty shore — evidently a vast 
level expanse — backed by far, faint, dream- 
like hills. This is Savana de la Mar, a wide, 
beautiful plain, abundantly watered by many 
streams, and susceptible of the highest cultiva- 
tion. Its shore is also indented with the fairy- 
like bays which form so charming a feature of 
the opposite coast, and it was beside the curv- 


On the Shores of Samana 229 


ing beach of one of these that an insignificant 
palm-thatched dwelling stood, amid surround- 
ings which an emperor might envy for his 
palace. A group of magnificent palms lifted 
their crowns of drooping fronds into the air a 
hundred feet above its roof; behind, a grove of 
luxuriant bananas rustled their immense green 
satin leaves, and in front the blue-and-silver 
waters stretched to the remote distance of the 
opposite shore, where the long range of hills 
swam in a haze of aerial azure. Everything 
that Nature could bestow of beauty, perfec- 
tion of climate, and productiveness of soil 
was here ; and if those whom these conditions 
surrounded were not happy, one can only say 
that no surroundings, however ideal, can in- 
sure happiness. 

This somewhat trite truth was very plainly 
written on the face of a girl who, leaving the 
house on the day after the pursuing party had 
crossed the Silldn de la Viuda, strolled, with 
the aimlessness of one who has no particular 
object in view, around the crescent of the 
shining beach, and, reaching its farthest point, 
sat herself down in the shade of some cluster- 


230 The Chase of an Heiress 


ing trees, and gazed with unseeing eyes over 
the leagues of glittering, dancing water which 
lay before her. It was the same face that Miss 
Chesney and Leslie had seen in the cathedral 
of Santo Domingo, yet in expression and as- 
pect so changed that it might almost have 
been doubted whether it was the same. A 
few days only had elapsed since its stormy 
beauty struck them so much; but what was 
written on it now was the deep, possibly in- 
effaceable trace of storm which had passed, 
leaving behind regret as passionate as the rage 
had been. 

In truth, Felisa was tasting for the first time 
in her life that bitter potion called shame, — a 
shame, which made her wish to hide herself 
from all her world, which had caused her to 
take refuge in this obscure spot, and made her 
now long to go a step farther and bury her- 
self, her troublesome passions and her terrible 
mistake (for so it seemed to her), in the waters 
before her. For who would ever believe with 
what childish ignorance and faith she had 
trusted herself to the man who talked of 
having been her father’s friend and promised 


On the Shores of Samana 231 


to help her to independence in her father’s 
country ? In the horror with which the few 
faithful friends to whom she had told her story 
had received it, in their evident opinion that 
she had hopelessly ruined her life, she seemed 
to read her fate. Nothing remained for her 
now but to hide herself far from all those who 
had known her, and be thankful if anyone 
would receive or believe in her. As for Ramon, 
— with a despairing heart she told herself that 
she must never think of Ramon again. If his 
father had objected to her before, what would 
he say of her now ? And Ramon himself, — was 
it likely that he would ever forgive or condone 
such an act as that of which she had been 
guilty ? In the hopelessness which filled her 
in reply to this question, she learned a truth 
as old as time, that what we possess with 
certainty we are likely to hold but lightly, and 
that loss is the sad teacher which must prove 
its value to us. Facing the conviction that by 
her own act she had lost her lover, and recall- 
ing, as at such moments unsparing memory 
does recall, all the faithful devotion of years 
which she had so poorly requited, Felisa felt 


232 The Chase of an Heiress 


as if her heart would break. Intense in sorrow 
as in every other emotion, her dark eyes were 
full of a passionate despair, as she gazed out 
over the sunlit waters and asked herself what 
was left for her in life. A fierce indifference 
to the fate of the man she had wounded pos- 
sessed her, but she was nevertheless aware that 
if he died she would be accounted a murderess. 
Just now that was a matter of importance to 
her only so far as it deepened the gloom of her 
future isolation. Who would ever again regard 
the heroine of such a tragedy — a tragedy caused 
by her own folly and passion — with any senti- 
ment save perhaps a pitying aversion ? 

And it was while she thus sank deeper and 
deeper into wholesome repentance and humility 
that a change, more wonderful than imagina- 
tion could have dreamed of, was drawing near 
to her. She had purposely turned her back 
upon the house when she took her seat, and, 
since she was some distance removed from it, 
no sound came thence to her ear. She was 
therefore still gazing in deep despondency over 
the glorious beauty of the outspread scene, 
when a step on the firm white sand of the beach 


On the Shores of Samana 233 


made her start and turn her head. The next 
moment she sprang to her feet with a low cry. 
Ramon was approaching her. 

It is not likely that Ramon, when he claimed 
the right, very readily yielded to him by the 
party which had just arrived, of going to seek 
Felisa, formed to himself any definite idea or 
conjecture of what reception he might expect, 
or what her mood would be. But, had he 
done so, he certainly could never have antici- 
pated what took place. He had been thinking 
of the Felisa whom he had seen last, from 
whom he had parted at the cathedral door; 
but this was a different Felisa altogether, this 
girl with her pale face and tragic eyes, who 
looked at him for a moment as if she could not 
believe the testimony of her sight, and then 
rushed forward and flung herself into his arms, 
as if into a shelter and refuge. 

“ Ramon! Oh, Ramon!” she cried, with 
all her passionate soul in her voice. ” Can it 
be that you forgive me and love me still ? ” 

Ramon was figuratively knocked down ; but 
physically he stood firm, and Felisa knew by 
the willing ardour of the arms which encircled 


234 The Chase of an Heiress 


her what was in his heart before his lips 
uttered it. 

“ I can never cease to love you, Felisa, as 
long as I live," he answered; " and to serve 
you I would go to the world’s end — though 
you did not believe it when we parted last." 

" I was a wretch, a miserable wretch! " said 
Felisa. " But I have been terribly punished. 
A little while ago my heart was broken. I 
never thought that you would look at me 
again. Maria Garcia said that I had been so 
mad that no one would ever believe in me or 
care for me again." 

Maria Garcia is a fool," replied Ramon, 
with angry emphasis. "It is true that you 
have been wild, and angry without cause, and 
foolish " 

" Oh, Ramon, worse than foolish! See! — 
you must not make light of what I have done. 
I am overwhelmed with shame when I think 
of it, and I deserve anything — everything, ex- 
cept that you take away your love. For I was 
mad, I think, and I acted like a mad creature. 
That man — but tell me if you know what I did 
to him ? " 


On the Shores of Samana 235 


“ Yes, I know; and you did right.” 

Oh, Ramon ! and if he dies ? ” 

He will not die; but if he did, it would be 
no more than he deserves, for he knew well 
what he was doing when he took you away 
from your home.” 

” Yes, he knew; no doubt he knew. But I 
suppose he did not believe me to be the fool 
I was, and thought I knew also. That is 
what Maria Garcia says. It is right to remem- 
ber that — and also that I asked him to take me.” 

” You asked him, Felisa ? ” 

” I think so. At least I asked him if I could 
not do something for myself if I were in my 
father's country, and he said, yes, there were 
many things that even a young girl could do 
there; and I said I would give much to go, 
and he said he would take me ; that we could 
embark on a ship at Sanchez, and I — I trusted 
him and believed that he meant only to help 
me, and I was like one on fire with rage be- 
cause nobody else would help me, and I 
thought I would show you what I could do, 
and — and 

” My poor Felisa,” — very tenderly, as the 


236 The Chase of an Heiress 


voice broke down in strangled sobs, — “ tell me 
no more. There is no need. I know all, and 
I have never for one instant thought evil of 
you — never. ” 

“ Ah, but I must tell you. It is only from 
me you can know all,” Felisa insisted, choking 
back her sobs and looking up at him with 
beautiful, tear-drenched eyes. ” And I will 
speak to you as if you were the Blessed Mother 
herself. This is how it was. After we had 
started, I began to have a dim fear that I had 
done wrong, because I liked not the way he 
looked at me and spoke to me. He seemed 
trying to behave as if he were my lover, and 
he had not behaved in that way before we 
started. He knew it was a false pretence, and 
I showed that I was displeased. It was then 
that I made up my mind that I would go no 
farther with him than across the Silldn de la 
Viuda, that when we reached the house of 
Severino Garcia I would remain there. But 
when we halted to rest the horses and take 
some food at the foot of the pass, he did not 
want to go on. I said that we must, and that, 
if he refused to go, I would go alone. Then 


On the Shores of Samana 237 


he said he would go if I would kiss him. I 
told him that I would see him dead first, and 
that if he touched me I would kill him. He 
laughed at that, and called me a ‘ spitfire,’ and 
caught hold of me. I said, ‘ Let me go, or I 
will kill you ! ’ He laughed again, and kissed 
me. Then I struck him with this ’'^she drew 
with a quick motion from the folds of her dress 
a small, keen dagger — “ and I know I tried 
to kill him. I felt no pity for him when he 
staggered back — none. I was furious, and I 
believe that I would have struck him again, 
but that my whole mind was set on escape. I 
ran out, called Manuel — the boy, you know — 
to come with me, made him mount, and we 
rode off. That is — all.” 

Her voice dropped over the last words, and 
she closed her eyes as if she were going to 
faint, as her head sank on his shoulder. The 
long strain of intense emotion, never relaxed 
from the hour of which she spoke until now, 
had at last its moment of reaction. She felt 
herself suddenly weak as a child, and for a mo- 
ment she lost consciousness. But only for a 
moment. Her splendid young vitality soon 


238 The Chase of an Heiress 


asserted itself. She opened her eyes again 
with a blissful sense of peace and security, and 
of a weight lifted away forever as she felt 
Ramon’s kisses on her face. 

“You are very, very good to forgive me,’’ 
she murmured. “ I am glad now I did not kill 
him ; it would make things worse. And as it 
is, how will your father ever overlook this ? ’’ 

A sudden thought — the first since she had 
rushed to meet him — of her changed condition, 
of the great news which awaited her, came to 
Ramon at these words. His arms dropped away 
from her under the impulse of it, and she, mis- 
understanding the cause of this withdrawal, 
looked up at him, a picture of penitent sadness. 

“You think he will never overlook it,’’ she 
said. “ And it is I who have made another 
barrier between us.’’ 

“ Felisa,’’ cried Ramon, almost beside him- 
self with conflicting emotions, “ do not tempt 
me to say another word. I should never for- 
give myself if I bound you by a promise of 
any kind before you know — but come with me 
to the house : there are — some people waiting 
to see you.” 


On the Shores of Samana 239 


People }** she shrank in painful surprise. 
“ Who are they, and why do they wish to see 
me ? Ramon, are you deceiving me ? Is that 
man perhaps dead, and have they come to 
arrest me ? ' ’ 

“No, no!“ cried Ramon, vehemently. 

How can you think such a thing ? The 
people yonder are Don Mariano “ 

“ Ah! “ she ejaculated, shrinking a little. 

“ And an American gentleman, who has 
come from the States to find you and bring 
you news.” 

“To find 7ne, Ramon ? ” 

“ You, Felisa — no one else. But it is not 
my place to give his news. He will tell you 
himself what it is. Come with me.” 

Keeping her hand close clasped in his, he 
drew her forward, walking hurriedly, as if he 
feared his own resolution if they tarried. And 
so Felisa, bewildered and breathless, was drawn 
a few minutes later into the presence of the 
group who were seated in the humble Domini- 
can house awaiting her. 

It was surely a strange place in which to seek 
the heiress of millions. This had been the 


240 The Chase of an Heiress 


thought of Miss Chesney and Leslie as they 
gazed around the apartment in which they 
found themselves while waiting the coming of 
the Cinderella who was to be transformed. 
Poverty could hardly have found more com- 
plete expression than in this house of logs, 
with its floor of earth and roof of thatch ; but 
perhaps it was owing to the idyllic surround- 
ings that there seemed something idyllic in 
the simplicity of the habitation. It was as if 
where Nature gave so much, and where she 
was herself so alluring, man needed but little 
in the form of shelter, and that little as simple, 
as primitive, as possible. Nor were the man- 
ners of the people at variance with this idea. 
No Arab chief at the door of his tent (and that 
is saying more than if one said a prince at the 
gate of his palace) could have surpassed in 
dignity and grace the manner and bearing of 
the owner of this humble hut as he received 
his unexpected guests and led them within, 
where his wife with equal courtesy made them 
welcome and offered them such seats as the 
habitation afforded. 

A few words had explained their business — 


On the Shores of Samana 241 


which indeed the presence of Don Mariano 
sufficiently explained — and while Ramon went 
in the direction indicated by one of the child- 
ren to seek Felisa, the heads of the house- 
hold, together with a tall, bronze-coloured 
woman who was Maria Garcia, eagerly ad- 
dressed themselves to Don Mariano, relating 
the manner of Felisa’s arrival and her story. 
Don Mariano endeavoured to wave these ex- 
planations aside. “ I know, I know," he 
repeated, as they poured forth their account, 
and as soon as it was possible to stem the 
torrent of words, he on his part began to 
speak. He thanked them first, warmly and 
gratefully, for receiving and sheltering the girl 
who had so wildly left her home and so fortun- 
ately escaped out of the hands of a schemer; 
and then he proceeded to electrify them by 
telling them why she had been the object of 
the defeated scheme, what wonderful change 
had come over her fortunes and made her a prize 
worth running any risk to gain. Their surprise 
was great, and their pleasure evidently sincere. 
But to Leslie, who, from understanding little 
of what was said, was the more closely observ- 

16 


242 The Chase of an Heiress 


ant of manner, it seemed that the first of these 
sentiments was not so intense as it would have 
been where cupidity was more of a recognised 
force in life, and that the last was untinctured 
with the envy which almost invariably accom- 
panies the reception of such news in more 
highly civilised localities and circles. They 
were still laughing at the discomfiture of the 
wounded adventurer, when in the open door- 
way Ramon appeared, leading Felisa. 

Silence fell at once, for everyone perceived 
by the pale resolution of one young face, and 
the startled apprehension of the other, that the 
time for congratulations had not yet come. 
Evidently the heiress was still in ignorance of 
her good-fortune, and evidently, also, she was 
expecting anything rather than such tidings. 
She hardly noticed the strangers — save that a 
momentary amazement was in her glance when 
it fell on Miss Chesney — as she entered and 
advanced, with the air of a child who comes to 
beg pardon for a fault, toward Don Mariano. 
But the hesitating words with which she began 
to address him were (to her) most unexpectedly 
cut short by his meeting her with a warmth 


On the Shores of Samana 243 


strange to their intercourse hitherto, and 
eagerly embracing her. Nor, let it in justice 
be said, was this warmth simulated on his 
part. It was a sincere expression of his pleas- 
ure in seeing again the wilful but still lovable 
girl who had grown up under his roof and 
whom such a golden halo now encircled. It is 
impossible to deny that but for this halo his re- 
ception of her would have been different. But 
it is also certain that he would have been glad 
of her recovery had it only meant that she would 
return to be a charge upon him as in the past. 

“ Ah, Felisa,’’ he said, “ thou hast behaved 
very badly, and with an incredible folly, but 
I will not scold thee. I am too thankful to see 
thee safe, preserved by God and thy own 
courage from a great danger." 

The sincere feeling of the words touched the 
girl, who knew herself little deserving of such 
kindness. She took his hand and kissed it 
with a gesture as graceful as it was humble. 

" I am sorry," she said, " very sorry to have 
given you so much trouble, both now and in 
the past. I will try to make amends if — if I 
may go home." 


244 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ We have come to take thee home/’ replied 
Don Mariano, delighted with this unexpected 
docility. “ But first we have news, strange 
news, for thee, carita. Here ” — he turned 
toward Leslie — “ is a senor Americano who 
reached Rosario with this news the very day 
thou, wilful one, hadst left; and he has fol- 
lowed thee through the forest and over the 
mountains to tell it.” 

Leslie could not but smile as he felt how 
every glance in the company now turned upon 
him, as the magician whose wand was to make 
the mighty change in the girl whose grave eyes 
looked at him expectantly. 

I believe,” he said, ” that Miss Ancram 
understands English: so I will not apologise 
for the fact that my news must be communi- 
cated in that language. I have to tell you,” 
he went on, directly addressing the girl, ” that 
you have inherited from a grand-uncle, of 
whom probably you have never heard, a very 
large fortune.” 

She stared at him a moment, so amazed and 
apparently so uncomprehending that he was 
about to address Ramon, who had drawn aside, 


On the Shores of Samana 245 


and ask him to repeat the communication in 
Spanish, when she spoke — in English also, 
but with a strong foreign accent : 

“ Did I understand you right, seflor ? Do 
you say that / — Felisa — have inherited a 
fortune ? " 

He bowed. “You understand me perfectly. 
That is what I have said.” 

“ It is, you say, a very large fortune ? I — 
I am rich ? ” 

“You are very rich, sefiorita. There are 
few women in the world more rich in their own 
right than you.” 

She was silent again for a moment, her great 
dark eyes still fixed upon him, her entire ex- 
pression that of one who is taking in an idea so 
new and so overwhelming that readjustment of 
the whole mental attitude is necessary in order 
to comprehend it. No one spoke. Even Don 
Mariano remained by some instinct silent, and 
waited curiously for her next words — the most 
self -revealing words that she would ever speak. 

They came at last, slowly, uttered as if in a 
dream. “ Then, if I am rich, everything is 
changed. Instead of being a weight, a burden. 


246 The Chase of an Heiress 


I can help others — those who have so long 

cared for me. And — and — perhaps ” 

She suddenly turned. A flash of light came 
over her face, irradiating, transforming it. At 
that moment she was divinely beautiful. Her 
lips curved into an exquisite smile, her eyes 
glowed with radiance as they fell upon Ramon. 
For the instant she seemed to forget every 
presence but his, as, advancing toward him 
with her hand outstretched, she went on with 
infinite simplicity and sweetness : 

Perhaps if this is really so — if I am really 
rich — your father will overlook the foolish 
thing which I have done, and let us be happy.” 



CHAPTER XVI 

THE END OF THE CHASE 

“ A ND so Felisa has justified my good 
opinion of her, and proved herself as 
generous and disinterested as the most roman- 
tic heart could desire.” 

It was Miss Chesney who made this remark, 
an hour later, when Leslie and herself had 
strolled to the point of the crescent-shaped 
beach where Felisa had sat in mournful de- 
spair so short a time before. It was settled 
that they would return to Sanchez — where 
they had spent the last night — taking the 
young heiress with them. But their hospitable 
hosts insisted on their waiting for a collation 
which was now in process of preparation; and 
in the interval these two had walked out to- 
gether. As they sat down under the clustering 
247 


248 The Chase of an Heiress 


group of palms which shaded the point, with 
the wondrous expanse of water and sky and 
distant shore spread before it, Leslie smiled in 
answer to his companion’s last remark. 

‘‘ I am glad that Felisa has justified your 
good opinion,” he said, ” but I am afraid it is 
my turn now to be a little cynical. She is too 
ignorant as yet to understand the power of her 
wealth. When she does understand it ” 

” The knowledge will have a good effect 
upon her,” said Miss Chesney, as he paused. 
” How do I know that ? Oh, by an instinctive 
judgment of her character, at which you may 
sneer ” 

” I have not the least intention of doing any 
such thing,” interposed Leslie. “ When have 
I ever ventured to sneer at any opinion of 
yours, whether based on instinct or not ? ” 

“You would if you dared, however. It is 
an invariable habit of men to sneer at any 
opinion based on instinct, without regard to 
the fact that their own opinions are frequently 
based on nothing half so trustworthy. How- 
ever, to return to Felisa. I am sure that she 
will now develop into a noble woman, and that 


The End of the Chase 


249 


her use of this wealth will be as good as its 
effect upon her/' 

“ But — pardon an humble inquirer into pro- 
cesses of thought which are shrouded in 
mystery to his duller understanding — why do 
you think so ? " 

“Well [condescendingly], I will tell you, 
though I do not imagine that I shall convince 
you. Her faults heretofore have all sprung 
from qualities — or, as the French say, the de- 
fects of qualities — noble in themselves. It is 
surely not a new or strange idea to you that a 
nature, especially if it has strongly marked 
characteristics, will be totally different in an en- 
vironment which frets and jars upon it, than in 
one which is sympathetic and harmonious." 

" I would not have to seek very long for 
that knowledge. I am a totally different man 
when I am treated with respect, consideration, 
and sympathy, than when I am — let us say 
snubbed." 

" Then you can appreciate the truth of what 
I state. Applying it to Felisa, one may readily 
see how her pride and spirit of independence 
have been galled by her dependent position; 


250 The Chase of an Heiress 


how her temper has suffered from uncongenial 
surroundings and the apparent hopelessness of 
her fate; and how her courage scorned what 
seemed to her the cowardly submission of her 
lover to his father/’ 

“ What a splendid devil’s advocate you 
would make! ” observed Leslie, admiringly. 

“ But now,” pursued the speaker, unheed- 
ing this interruption, ” we have had an oppor- 
tunity to see the fine qualities which prosperity 
has already developed. Could anything have 
been more generous than her first thoughts 
when she heard that she was rich ' beyond the 
dreams of avarice,’ or anything more noble, 
more self-forgetful, than her first words to 
Ramon ? Oh, I am sure she has a nature 
which will ripen and sweeten in sunshine, like 
those grapes from which is expressed the finest 
wine.” 

” Your theory of the excellent effects of 
prosperity is one which would meet with wide 
acceptance,” said Leslie, smiling. ” But I 
suppose I hardly need point out to you that it 
is not that which has the approbation of 
moralists. One of these last would hold that 


The End of the Chase 251 


such wealth as this girl possesses will probably 
have a bad rather than a good effect upon her 
character." 

My theory," said Miss Chesney, incis- 
ively, " is that upon the character itself de- 
pends the influence which wealth exercises. 
If the mercenary taint is in it, the vulgar love 
of money for its own sake, if vanity rules or 
selfishness dominates, then the deterioration of 
such a character will be quick and complete. 
But if it be generous in instinct, noble in qual- 
ity, and high in tastes, wealth can do it no 
harm, but only good, let all the moralists in 
the world sa}^ what they will to the contrary." 

" Amen. I wish I had at this moment a 
fortune to lay at your feet." 

" You have no assurance that I am one of 
those on whom its effects would be good. I 
am afraid, on the contrary, that I should be- 
come too fond of power, if I had the power 
which a great fortune gives. I am aware that 
I am already too much inclined to be dicta- 
torial." 

" Now, I call it very remarkable," said 
Leslie, who was diligently digging a hole in 


252 The Chase of an Heiress 


the sand, “ that you should be so well aware 
of your weak point. I wish I had as clear 
ideas about my own.” 

“ I should not think you could be in any 
doubt about it,” observed Miss Chesney, dryly. 

” Don’t you ? ” he replied, quite eagerly. 
” But I am in doubt, so pray enlighten me. 
Tell me what it is.” 

” Really, Mr. Leslie, I don’t see that I am 

called upon to be your Mentor ” 

” Called upon — no; but as an act of charity. 
You think me a failure in life, that I know; 
and I am prepared to admit that you are right. 
But why, in your opinion, am I a failure ? ” 

” Does n’t it strike you that such — er — per- 
sonal conversation is in bad taste ? ” 

” Not at all. I confess to liking personal 
conversation. It is much more interesting 
than the discussion of abstract subjects. I 
want to talk about the concrete — the very con- 
crete, — about myself. What, I repeat, is in 
your opinion the cause of my double failure, 
either to do anything worth doing in life, or to 
win your regard — I may say your respect ? ” 

” You have no right to say anything of the 


The End of the Chase 253 


kind,” she returned, indignantly. ” When 
have I ever indicated ” 

” That you despise me ? I regret to be 
forced to answer, many times. Lately, in 
particular, when you have told me again and 
again that my manifest duty was to marry, or 
endeavour to marry, a woman for her money. 
Now, when I consider the type of man who is 
supposed to be specially fitted for that destiny, 
I cannot fail to believe that you hold me very 
low indeed, or you would not have offered 
such advice; but, not knowing in the least 
what I have done to merit your contempt, I 
humbly beg for light on the subject.” 

He was so intently engaged in digging his 
hole — as if he had been digging for the light 
he asked — that he did not glance at Miss 
Chesney as he uttered this speech. Had he 
done so, he would have been struck by the ex- 
pression of her face. As it was, he only caught 
the tone of her voice as she said, after a mo- 
ment’s hesitation, 

” I should never have thought you would 
be so foolish as to ask for the serious interpre- 
tation of a jest.” 


254 The Chase of an Heiress 


“ A jest ? ” he repeated, and now he sus- 
pended his work of excavation to look up at 
her. “ Your advising me to secure Felisa's 
fortune might have been a jest, but not the 
contempt which made that advice possible." 

" No," she replied, " that was not a jest, 
for the simple reason that even a jest must 
have an existence, and my contempt for you 
has never had any existence at all except in 
your imagination." 

"You know that you think me indolent, 
careless, lacking in energy " 

“ Oh, yes [impatiently], you are all of 
that. Did I not say you had no need to have 
your weak points told to you ? But have 
those faults ever injured anyone save your- 
self ? And one does not — exactly — despise a 
man for only injuring himself." 

“You are mistaken [gloomily]. I think you 
have despised me, although you are kindly 
endeavouring to smooth it over now." 

" I am glad that at least you give me credit 
for so much charitable intention," said she, 
smiling. " The other evening you were quite 
certain that I intended to insult you, and that 


The End of the Chase 255 

I used ‘ remorselessly ' my power to wound 
you.” 

I behaved like a brute on the occasion you 
mention,” he replied, contritely, ” and I have 
been wearing sackcloth and ashes ever since. 
I beg you to pardon me, and to believe that 
I was really not accountable for my words. 
When a man is deeply stung and wounded, he 
does not always know what he says.” 

Miss Chesney regarded him for a moment in 
silence. He was still digging his hole in very 
energetic fashion, and did not meet her gaze. 
One would have said that he was preparing a 
grave for something in the Dominican sand. 

” But,” she said after a moment — and her 
voice was very gentle — ” why should you have 
been stung and wounded ? You are not usually 
so dull in understanding — jests.” 

” I suppose,” he replied, ” that it all de- 
pends on who jests. And then, as I told you 
at the time and repeated a moment ago, it was 
not the jest, but the underlying contempt 
which made the jest possible, that stung me.” 

” And how often must I repeat that there 
was no underlying contempt ? ” 


256 The Chase of an Heiress 


He shrugged his shoulders slightly. “You 
think so, perhaps, and I am grateful to you for 
trying to think so, for trying to convince 
yourself and me that there was not. But the 
fact remains that you gave me the advice 
which you did because of your conviction that 
I was a poor, incapable creature, manifestly 
intended by destiny to marry a rich woman 
because I had done and could do nothing else 
in the world. “ 

Miss Chesney sighed profoundly. “ What 
a perilous thing is jesting! “ she said, senten- 
tiously. “ And how careful one should be 
how and with whom one jests! If I had for a 
moment suspected you of being so susceptible, 
I may say so dense “ 

“ Pray don’t hesitate to express your mean- 
ing plainly,” said he, laughing a little. “ 1 
am not too dense to comprehend what it is.” 

She made a gesture, as if dismissing the sub- 
ject. “ Instead of comprehending, you are 
determined to misunderstand me,” she said, 
“so we will not discuss the subject further. 
And, after all, this scene is too suggestive 
of everything most exquisitely peaceful for 


The End of the Chase 257 


quarrelling. We shall have time enough for 
that amusement on our journey to La Vega 
and Santiago.” 

Have you spoken to your father about 
such a trip ? Will he consent to go ? ” 

” At present he says that the project is ab- 
surd and not to be thought of ; that he had no 
anticipation of further unreasonable proposals 
when he consented to come here. But I have 
lodged the idea in his mind; the fascination of 
it will grow upon him ; and finally he will ob- 
serve that, being so near those places, it will 
really never do to leave the island without 
having seen them. In order to bring him to 
that point it is only necessary to wait — and 
say nothing more.” 

‘ * How well you understand managing him ! ’ ' 
remarked Leslie, admiringly. 

” It would be strange if I had not learned so 
much as that in the years we have lived to- 
gether, and not only lived but travelled 
together. For it is a trite but true saying 
that nothing reveals character so much as 
travelling. You don’t know your nearest re- 
lative or most intimate friend until you have 


258 The Chase of an Heiress 


made a journey with him. Now papa and I 
have been around the globe, so I am very well 
acquainted with all his little ways, especially 
in regard to sight-seeing.” 

” If I could have the pleasure of travelling 
around the globe with you, perhaps we should 
learn to understand each other better,” said 
Leslie, in a wistful tone. 

” It is barely possible that after such a jour- 
ney you might be able to comprehend when I 
was jesting,” she returned, dryly; ” but the 
result would hardly warrant the experiment.” 

” Not for you,” he assented. ” As for me, 
I am afraid that I understand you too well 
already, and that even the journey to La Vega 
will but serve to deepen a knowledge which 
causes more pain than pleasure.” 

” How extremely flattering you are! ” 

‘ ‘ Flattering ! ” He looked up at her quickly. 
” When have I ever thought of flattering you ? 
I have always tried to speak the truth plainly 
and directly, even when it was not a truth 
which you cared to hear. I know well that 
you prefer to keep our intercourse on the sur- 
face, to avoid the expression of feelings which 


The End of the Chase 259 


you do not wish to recognise, to veil unpleas- 
ant opinions under jests ” 

Oh, how you harp on one string! ’’ cried 
she, impatiently. “ There you are striking at 
my poor little jests again ! ” 

Because your poor little jests struck very 
deep with me. But I will not allude to them 
again. I will speak as frankly as I have always 
done, and tell you that I am considering whether 
I shall not take the steamer for the States, 
which is due at Sanchez to-morrow, instead of 
returning with our party to Santo Domingo.” 

She started. ” Are you thinking of forsak- 
ing us in such a manner?” she asked, re- 
proachfully. ” And the trip to La Vega! — I 
fancied you would enjoy it as much as I.” 

” It would be a greater pleasure than I can 
express,” he answered. ” But there are pleas- 
ures which, if a man is wise, he will shun. I 
thought that I might approach and warm my- 
self a little at a flame which had burned me 
once, but I find that the old burn grows too 
painful. My metaphors are perhaps obscure, 
but the plain truth is — for I would not have 
you think me churlish — that I find that I love 


26o The Chase of an Heiress 


you as much as ever — as ever, do I say ? 
breaking off almost fiercely. “No, far more 
than I ever loved you before, as if, unknown 
to myself, my love had been growing in the 
interval since you laughed at me and refused 
to listen to me a year ago. And, this being 
so, should I not be a fool if I lingered near 
you, only to be wounded by your indifference, 
your scorn “ 

“ No! “ The word in its sharp energy cut 
the air like a sword. She turned toward him 
with a flash of fire in her grey eyes, a sudden 
rush of colour into her lily-pale cheeks. 
“You have no right to say that,” she went 
on, breathlessly. “ I have never scorned you, 
— never! And if I laughed, does one not 
sometimes laugh at that which one — likes ? 
Last year — Oh, what fools men are! ” 

Her voice choked over the last vehement 
exclamation. She looked away again, but now 
she saw the shining waters and the distant 
shore swimming in a mist of tears. Leslie, 
startled beyond measure by her words, forgot 
his grave-digging, and leaning forward, tried 
to see her face. 


The End of the Chase 261 


“ No doubt we are fools,” he said humbly; 
” but last year — how was I specially a fool last 
year ? Did you not send me away ? — refuse 
to listen to me ? ” 

” I — laughed at you. But was that a reason 

for believing ?” She turned her face 

suddenly and looked at him. He would have 
been a fool indeed had he not read then what 
was shining in her eyes. 

” I never meant you to go; I never thought 
you would not come back,” she went on. 
When you did not come, I believed it had 

been a mere fancy which had passed ” 

” A fancy! ” He took her hand and kissed 
it passionately. ” No, it was no fancy, but a 
love which has grown greater with time and 
absence, until now it has passed beyond my 
control, so that one of two things I must do, 
— either part from you finally, or never part 
again. It is for you to say which it shall be.” 

She did not laugh at him now, nor mock 
his earnestness in her light, accustomed fashion, 
but answered sweetly, gravely, and directly, 

” We will never part.” 


THE END 


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